NewsCrime

Actions

PD: Mothers foil kidnapping attempts outside Phoenix elementary school

Desiree Cay Ortiz.png
Posted at 1:03 PM, Jan 13, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-13 17:21:02-05

PHOENIX — Two mothers are credited with fighting off a woman who tried to kidnap their children outside a Phoenix elementary school last week.

Phoenix police report that on January 7, they responded to Capitol Elementary School near 17th Avenue and Van Buren Street for reports of an attempted kidnapping.

Police say a mother was holding her 6-month-old child when Desiree Cay Ortiz, 44, approached her holding a Christmas blanket and reportedly grabbed the child from the woman’s arms.

Police say a witness saw the mother struggling with Ortiz for control of the baby and ran over to help. The witness was able to separate Ortiz from the baby. However, police say, Ortiz then went after the witness’s children and attempted to grab them.

The witness was able to also get her children away from Ortiz and chase her away.

Police located Ortiz a couple of blocks away.

She has been charged with attempted kidnapping.