Robert Deane walked outside of his home to pick up some packages when he noticed two car seats in a ditch. When he went to investigate, he found two baby girls who were kidnapped earlier Monday morning in a stolen vehicle.
The girls were found in their car seats left out in the below-freezing temperatures on the southeast side of Indianapolis, nearly 4 miles from where the vehicle they were inside was reported stolen.
“I’d do it again,” Deane said. “If you see something, like a baby in a ditch, say something (and) do something.”
It’s unclear how long they were out in the 27-degree weather.
“It’s cold out here,” Indianapolis police spokesman William Young said. “Who knows what could have happened if this particular individual was not able to come outside. It’s extremely cold, and we’re still in our early stages of trying to figure out who was responsible for this.”
Just before 11 a.m., Indianapolis Metropolitan Police were called to East Gimber Street on the city’s south side for a report of a stolen 2013 Hyundai Sonata with 4-month old and 5-month old babies inside. Shortly after, an officer located the vehicle at about the same time that a call came in from a man who said he had found two infants outside in those car seats.
Police have not provided details about how the vehicle was stolen or whether the babies were left unattended in the vehicle before it was taken.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police confirmed just before noon that the two babies were found and were safe.
“He did what any good person would do,” Young said. “He got those infants to shelter. This is an outcome that we wanted. I can’t thank that good Samaritan enough. We don’t have a suspect in custody, but that will be our next priority is figuring out who is responsible for this particular incident.”
Indianapolis Police are examining the vehicle and are asking for any witnesses regarding this kidnapping to come forward.
No information about a suspect has been released.
Second child kidnapping in the past two weeks
This is the second time within the last two weeks a child was kidnapped due to a stolen vehicle.
On Nov. 20, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police issued an alert that a baby boy was inside a Black 2014 Chevy Equinox that was stolen just before 7 p.m. that evening.
“Just two weeks ago on our north side, someone was possibly warming up a vehicle and a child was inside,” Young said. “We were able to find that vehicle as well and I’m not saying that this is what the case was in this particular incident, but it’s not a good idea to let your car warm up as we go into our winter months, especially if you have your child inside.”
Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formally Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.
