Lawton Police say a 10-month-old baby who was kidnapped by her own mother was found safe just after 11 a.m. Monday.
Police say thanks to an anonymous call, Elesa Rose Knight was found with her mother, 23-year-old Danielle Annette Young, at an east Lawton home.
Police say the concern started when the mother, who does not have custody, took the baby from a weekend party. That is when police issued an Endangered Baby Alert.
Elesa is doing just fine tonight, but for her paternal grandparents, a weekend celebration turned into a nightmare. When they found out their granddaughter was missing they were horrified.
"It kills you when something like that happens," said the baby's grandfather.
Elesa's grandparents, who did not want to be identified, says they can joke about it now after they picked her up from the police station Monday afternoon.
"The only thing I could say was, girl you know not to be out all hours of the night time like that, you've got some explaining to do," said the baby's grandfather.
Elesa's grandparents say they dropped Elesa off at a house for a relatives birthday party, when they got back the baby was gone, and told Young had taken her.
"I just got in the car and went to every place I could think of," said the grandfather.
The party was for Lance Jacobson's 6-year-old son's birthday. He says he had no idea there was a custody dispute between the baby's grandparents and mother.
"She was talking about going to Wal-Mart to get him something for his birthday and next thing you know she was gone and the baby was gone," said Jacobson.
Elesa's grandfather says he did not sleep at all Sunday night, and is thankful to have Elesa back.
"It's a good thing because a lot of children disappear, both young and old, and no one ever finds them. I'm glad they found this one," said the grandfather.
Elesa's mother is in jail Monday night, and was arrested on two prior warrants for trafficking drugs. Police say now she could be looking at a kidnapping charge.
Police say Young took Elesa because she claims the grandparents would not let her see the baby. They tell us because of the kidnapping, they plan on filing for permanent custody.
