2 young sisters found safe; babysitter tied to prior kidnapping
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Atlanta, GA - Two young sisters who were the subject of an AMBER Alert have been found safe after police say they were abducted by their babysitter, a woman investigators have linked to a similar kidnapping case involving a newborn five years ago.
The Atlanta Police Department said 4-year-old Zola Cooper and her 11-month-old sister, Norah Cooper, were recovered Monday from a trailer in the Atlanta area. Their accused kidnapper, 42-year-old Lakesha Brown, was taken into custody.
Police said investigators received information that Brown may have been staying in a trailer on the property. When officers arrived, they heard a baby crying inside.
Officers entered the trailer and found Brown with both children, according to police.
The girls appeared to be in good health and were taken to a medical facility for evaluation. Investigators said they were still working to determine a motive.
Atlanta police said Brown has ties to Alabama and was involved in a similar case about five years ago.
In August 2021, Brown was accused of kidnapping a 4-day-old boy from a home in Fairfield, Alabama, near Birmingham.
Authorities said Brown was a family friend who was at the home with the infant, his mother and grandmother. The baby's mother went to sleep because she was not feeling well and later discovered that both Brown and her newborn were gone.
Investigators eventually took Brown into custody, but the baby was not with her. Tips later led authorities to a home where the infant was found safe and reunited with his mother.
Brown was charged with first-degree kidnapping in that case.
Atlanta police said information from Alabama authorities helped investigators locate Brown and the two Georgia children in the latest case.
Investigators said Brown had known the girls' mother for about a year and had gained her trust.
Police said there were communications indicating Brown would return the children, but she allegedly failed to do so.
Atlanta police received a call about the missing children around 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Investigators worked through the night, obtaining warrants and using cellphone data to help narrow down Brown's location.
The investigation involved multiple Atlanta police units as well as the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, FBI and other law enforcement agencies.
Both children were safe following their recovery as authorities continued investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction.