Fake Pregnant Aunt Kidnapped Niece

The aunt of a newborn baby stolen from his mother's bedroom Thursday morning was charged on Friday with kidnapping after police said she concocted a fake pregnancy back story on Facebook that included a real-life prosthetic pregnancy belly.
Kristen Rose Smith, 31, of Denver, Colo, was charged Friday afternoon with kidnapping, which is a federal offence because the infant was taken across state lines.

Smith was taken into custody Thursday morning on an unrelated warrant out of Texas and was still being held at the Cedar County Jail in Tipton.

Police allege that Smith took Kayden Powell, then he was just 5 days old, from a home in Wisconsin and transported him across state lines to Iowa.

The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in Madison, Wis by Special Agent Bryan Baker with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The assistant U.S. Attorney's Office will handle prosecution.

If convicted, Smith faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

The affidavit shows that Smith had been at a Beloit, Wis., residence where the baby and the baby's parents were staying. Officials allege Smith had planned to leave the residence at 2 a.m. Thursday in order to drive home to Denver, Colo.

Kayden's mother, Brianna Marshall, called police at 4:30 a.m. when she awoke to find Kayden missing, according to the affidavit. She told the police that Smith had left earlier.

Police then said Smith called Marshall's grandmother at 4:54 a.m while Beloit Police officers were still at the residence. When an officer talked to Smith, Smith said that Marshall, Marshall's boyfriend and the infant had been planning to move to Denver on Saturday to live with Smith, according to the affidavit.

Smith told the officer she had Kayden's clothing in the car with her but not Kayden. Officers told Smith to pull over at the nearest gas station so law enforcement could speak with her, according to the affidavit.

Smith called police back at 5:21 a.m., noting she was at the Kum & Go gas station off of Interstate 80 in West Branch, Iowa, according to the affidavit.

West Branch Police then searched Smith's car, finding baby clothing, a car seat and stroller, but not Kayden, according to the affidavit.

When records revealed Smith had an outstanding warrant from Texas, she was taken into custody.

After being taken to Cedar County Jail, Smith told the FBI she had no knowledge of the child's whereabouts, according to the affidavit. She did consent to a search of her cell phone, Facebook account and car.

Smith was taken into custody Thursday morning on an unrelated warrant out of Texas and was still being held at the Cedar County Jail in Tipton. 

Police allege that Smith took Kayden Powell, then just 5 days old, from a home in Wisconsin and transported him across state lines to Iowa.

The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in Madison, Wis by Special Agent Bryan Baker with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The assistant U.S. Attorney's Office will handle prosecution. 

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