A Steinbach woman is in custody facing kidnapping charges after an incident Wednesday night in which a 22-month-old boy was taken from his babysitter’s home, police said.
Steinbach RCMP said the suspect, 56, showed up at the babysitter’s home around 10:50 p.m., and took the boy without permission, before leaving on a bicycle with the child.
RCMP Sgt. Paul Manaigre tells Global News the woman “made comment” to the babysitter that arrangements had been made to take the boy to his mother.
“Once this babysitter made the call to the mother after the fact, they determined that wasn’t the case,” said Manaigre.
Police canvassed the neighbourhood overnight until they found the child, safe, around 8:25 a.m. Thursday.
Manaigre said an Amber Alert was not issued due to the amount of information known to police, including who was involved and knowing the child was not far.
“It was just a matter of time, putting a couple of puzzle pieces together and by the early morning hours they had already located her and the child, unharmed,” Manaigre said.
The woman, who was known to the babysitter, is in custody and police said the child was safely reunited with his mother.
The mother and the woman charged were also acquaintances, according to Manaigre.