Missing 6-week-old Baby, Possibly Kidnapped

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department and the missing child's 17-year-old mother are asking the public's help in locating her infant son and the two women who took the baby this afternoon from the 100 block of West 42nd Street. 

"This case is a little out of the ordinary," said lead detective Maria Rivas, who is assigned to the Newton Street Police Station.  "We are handling this case as a kidnapping, but our initial hope is the child is not in any immediate danger.  We'd like either of the two women involved, or anyone who recognizes their description, to call the police and return the child immediately."

The young mother, Dominique Calloway, was approached last Saturday by two women at a 99-cent Store.  They offered her $6,000 for her newborn child, named Devon Calloway.  One of the women showed Dominique the cash.  Dominique considered the offer over the weekend, but made no commitment. 

Dominique saw the women driving in their late-model, black Ford Explorer in the neighborhood yesterday, but she did not talk to them. They returned again today, a little before 2 PM, and Dominique told them she had changed her mind about selling the child.  The passenger asked to see the child one more time.  When Dominique handed her the baby, the two women drove away, dragging Dominique as she held onto the side of the truck.

Detectives are hoping that anyone who recognizes the women's descriptions will call police.  Both women are Black.  The driver was wearing a black tank top.  She has dark skin and crooked teeth.  Her hair is styled in a straight weave.  Dominique saw the woman's driver's license and remembered the last name of Williams and that the woman was 43 years old.

The passenger was in her early thirties and was wearing a black, short-sleeve T-shirt and a black scarf on head. 

Devon Calloway was born at California Hospital on April 15, 2006.  He is Black and has a dark-brown birthmark on his right leg and a white spot on his forehead.  He was last seen wearing a red shirt with little-car illustrations and red shorts.

Anyone with information regarding the child's whereabouts or the women is urged to call Detective Maria Rivas at 323-846-6576 or the watch commander at 323-846-6547.  On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).

When a photograph is obtained, it will be E-mailed to media outlets.

Comments

[Vodkus]

Is this mother upset because her baby was taken, or upset because she didn't get her $6000? Once the baby is recovered, I hope that it will not be returned to the mother. In addition, this mother should be charged with child endangerment or some such thing.

[Dave]

There should be a law to see if your fit to be a parent before being able to have a child. That child is most likely better off with the ladies who took the child than with his mother. Shes a joke, 17 yrs old and has 2 kids. Seeing the 17 yrs old mother on TV tells the real story. The fruit does not fall to far from the tree. Thanks to the tax payers we suppport all those other kids in that house. Waste of tax payers money! GET A JOB PAY FOR YOUR OWN KIDS OR DONT EVEN HAVE ANY WITH NO MEANS OF SUPPORTING IT BESIDES TAX PLAYERS MONEY!

[Brian Humphrey]

"When a photograph is obtained, it will be E-mailed to media outlets."

Please also consider posting these photos (when approved for release) right here on the blog.

The timely placement of these images in front of the extra eyes offered by blog readership might help, especially when it is far from the television news hour!

Keep up the great work. I'm a regular visitor and also subscribe to your free RSS Feed.

Fraternally Yours in Safety and Service,

Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department

[Laura]

I really don't think that once the child is found, that it be returned to the mother. The FACT that she actually considered selling the baby tells it all. Who knows, what if someone else offers her $10,000, will she THEN sell the baby? The kids are better off in protective custody AWAY from the mother, who's a child herself!

[RCCop466]

So we bear witness to another case where someone's stupidity puts a true "victim" in danger.. Took the weekend to consider selling her child? Seriously! How bout that, but the truth of the matter is, these types of "victims" are what police deal with everyday! The only victim here is that poor child! From the day he was conceived, he had no chance. Maybe the mother was going to use the $6000 to go get steralized. Who am I kidding? She was going to buy some dope...
I pray that the child is found and given a chance with a FAMILY that wants to raise a child... At the same time, maybe lawmakers need to look at the possiblity of steralization when it comes to circumstances such as this..

[pro-police]

The lady was offered money for her child. Lady considered it, and gave personal information to unknown ladies. Lady never had a doubt in mind about to not selling her child. She is simple upset that her child was taken without getting money in return. Sad things is time was wasted on this senseless story, and the only person hurt in all of this was the child.

[Miheala]

The boy was in the custody of child welfare workers in Dallas. A Los Angeles County child welfare worker will travel to Dallas to take custody of him and determine "what's in baby's best interest, to be returned to his mother or otherwise," Eimiller said.

Los Angeles police Capt. Bill Murphy said it was unlikely that Devon would be immediately returned to his mother, 17-year-old Dominique Calloway. While investigating the boy's disappearance, social workers determined that Calloway's home was in such poor condition that they placed her other child, a 2-year-old, into protective custody.

[Laniece]

I think it's sad when someone has to stoop that low in order to obtain money, but at the same time at least she didnt strangle the child, dump the child in the trash and return back to school, work, or even go to her senior prom. We all need to be a little less judgemental and try to think of ways that we can help others instead of talking about I pay taxes, I'm taking care of those kids. When our tax dollars are paying for high gas prices, crooked politicians, a war that is killing our fellow Americans. Yes welfare is out of hand, but why? That system is sad. When it's all said and done, even children services is not up to par. I've seen first hand children being tossed around, and even die in that system. Once they are in child protective services a lot are not protected. Sad. What can we do?