Good news: 7-week-old Ahsir Simmons’ parents can breathe a sigh of relief. The beautiful brown babe has been returned after enduring a harrowing experience. On March 31, Simmons was kidnapped from King of Prussia Plaza, an upscale suburban mall in Philadelphia. Per Upper Merion Township Police, the baby was abducted from the food court by an unidentified woman.
Apparently, the woman, whose image was captured on mall security cameras, befriended Simmons’ family, and even sat with them in the food court before asking to hold the baby when it began fussing. When little Ahsir was in her arms, his mother took a phone call and tended to the other children in her care. Soon, the woman holding the baby took off.
The mother notified authorities and the kidnapper was spotted exiting the huge 400-store mall in the area near Bonefish Grill. An Amber Alert was issued at approximately 5:35 p.m., noting that the alleged kidnapper was a dark-skinned Black female, approximately 25-30 years of age, height 5’2”, with a medium build and purple and black dreadlocks.
At a press conference, an Upper Merion Township Police Department official said, “The child began to fuss, and our suspect in this case asked if she could hold the child to try and calm her … [That’s when] our suspect walks off with the baby from the food court.”
Hours later, Upper Merion Township Police Chief Thomas Nolan shared that the abductor is in custody and the baby had been found at approximately 10:30 p.m. in Tredyffrin Township in Chester County, which is about six miles west of King of Prussia Plaza.
Authorities haven’t yet revealed the woman’s identity nor where she took the baby when she left the mall.
Charges are pending in this case.
