Couple Allegedly Posed as Amazon Driver to Kidnap Relative’s Baby, Fled with the Child in Amazon Box: Police
Marlly Jarina Ardila-Urrego and Chun Ho Vincent Lai have been charged with kidnapping, burglary and robbery
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Couple with delivery boxes seen outside the residence of alleged kidnapping• Marlly Jarina Ardila-Urrego and Chun Ho Vincent Lai have been charged with kidnapping and burglary, among other charges
• Authorities allege they traveled from Florida to Washington State to carry out the kidnapping
• The infant's grandfather reportedly told police a family member had mentioned plans to sell a baby for $70,000
A Florida couple has been arrested and charged after allegedly traveling to Washington State and abducting a relative's 7-month-old baby, according to authorities.
Marlly Jarina Ardila-Urrego and Chun Ho Vincent Lai have been charged with kidnapping, burglary and robbery in connection with the alleged Feb. 20 incident in Federal Way, Wash., The Seattle Times, FOX 13 Seattle and KING 5 report.
They are also being charged with assault, per FOX 13 Seattle and KING 5.
Prosecutors say Ardila-Urrego, 33, and Lai, 42, allegedly targeted the family solely because they have a child, The Seattle Times reports.
In the days leading up to the incident, Ardila-Urrego allegedly asked her cousin, the mother of the child, what her address was repeatedly, charging documents say, according toThe Seattle Times, FOX 13 Seattle and KING 5.
Ardila-Urrego allegedly told the woman that she had ordered a bed frame for the woman's child and that it would be delivered to her on Feb. 20, according to the documents, as reported by the outlets.
When the day finally arrived, the victim says there was a knock on the door soon after her husband left for work, charging documents claim, according to the outlets.
She reportedly told authorities that she looked through the peephole and saw someone who appeared to be a delivery driver with an Amazon box.
As soon as she opened the door, the purported driver – who prosecutors say was actually Lai – allegedly began punching her in the face, then threw her to the ground and zip-tied her wrists and ankles, according to court documents, FOX 13 Seattle and The Seattle Times report.
A woman unknown to her then entered the apartment, the victim said, and allegedly held her down while the man put the infant in an Amazon box and left the apartment, according to probable cause documents cited by KING 5.
One of the suspects allegedly indicated they would harm the woman’s 2-year-old child if she didn’t comply, the documents say, per the outlet.
Once the suspects left, the woman was able to free herself from the zip-ties and call 911, charging documents say, according to The Seattle Times and FOX 13 Seattle.
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The victim’s father reportedly told authorities that he suspected Ardila-Urrego was behind the incident, according to FOX 13 Seattle and KING 5.
He claimed it was unusual for her to ask about the victim’s address because they weren’t close, according to the outlets.
He also claimed he was aware of a plan Ardila-Urrego had made to sell a baby for $70,000, FOX 13 Seattle reported.
Once police were notified, they were able to use cellphone information to locate the couple’s vehicle and track them down, according to KING 5 and FOX 13 Seattle.
They were able to rescue the infant, who was unharmed, less than four hours after the alleged kidnapping, prosecutors said, according to The Seattle Times.
Bail has been set for $750,000 for each of the suspects, per the outlets.
It’s not clear if they have retained an attorney; they are set to be arraigned in March.
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