By Miguel Cruz Tejada
NEW YORK._ A 22-month-old girl of Dominican origin with a Cambodian father and Dominican mother was kidnapped by a couple on Monday while she was alone in her mother’s SUV who was at a hair salon in Lawrence, Massachusetts, leaving the kidnappers to the baby in a hospital with an unknown woman where she was rescued by the police and handed over to her parents.
Due to legal protocols, the girl is not identified, but it was confirmed that her second last name is Díaz.
The police were notified about the incident, moved quickly, and managed to capture couple Adam Maksou and Jamie O’Neil Garrity, both 36 years old, who stole the vehicle with the girl inside and took off from the area in an unknown direction. Being intercepted by cruisers (patrol cars).
The couple was charged Tuesday with kidnapping and carjacking in Lawrence Superior Court, where the charges were read before a judge.
They both reside in Methuen, Massachusetts.
They are charged with kidnapping, theft of a motor vehicle, and reckless endangerment of the girl, Lawrence police said.
Garrity originally identified herself to the police as Haverhill resident Erin Clark. Still, officers said they learned her true identity from an anonymous caller, and a charge of providing a false name was added to her case.
Lawrence police received a 911 call around 8:00 p.m. Monday regarding a silver 2011 Honda Pilot vehicle stolen outside a barbershop in the 100 block of South Broadway. Massachusetts State Police said the 22-month-old was in the back seat when the car was stolen.
The deputy prosecutor explained that the girl’s mother briefly entered the barbershop while the boy was in the car. Maksou is accused of taking the vehicle during that time.
State and local police units actively searched for the vehicle, and all available Massachusetts State Police patrols using K-9 dogs in the area responded.
During that time, the prosecutor said Maksou picked up Garrity in Methuen and then went to his father’s house. Maksou’s father told him to return the girl or take her to a fire station.
At 9:55 p.m., state police announced that the girl was dropped off at Lawrence General Hospital. According to the prosecutor, Maksou left the baby with an unknown woman inside the hospital, telling her she had to park the car.
After rescuing the girl, the police handed her over to her family.
State Troopers spotted the Honda on Highway 495 and pursued the stolen vehicle at up to 110 mph for 20 miles until the suspects stopped on the south side near Interstate 290 in the town of Berlin, where Maksou and Clark were arrested.
The kidnappers had their bonds revoked for previous cases.
In this case, Maksou’s bail was $75,000, and Garrity’s was $10,000.
Their lawyers requested that they be sent to drug detoxification programs.
The girl’s grandmother, Belgium Diaz, said her granddaughter was being evaluated at the hospital.
“They are checking it and everything will be fine,” added the grandmother. “When you believe in God, the impossible can happen. When we pray, I feel like everything is going to be okay.”
CAPTION
NEW YORK._ The girl of Dominican origin was kidnapped by a couple of Adam Maksou and Jamie O’Neil Garrity (in box), leaving her in a Lawrence hospital and delivered to her parents. (External source).
