DURHAM, N.C. — A woman who admitted to attempting to abduct a newborn last spring from Duke Hospital has been released from jail after serving a two month sentence.
On April 19, hospital officials saw 28-year-old Tanisha Weaver attempting to take a baby out of the hospital’s North Ancillary. When the staff recognized that Weaver was not authorized to take the newborn, they immediately called police and detained her until authorities arrived.
The woman brought balloons and a gift card to the newborn’s mother, saying that Weaver would stay with the child while the mother went to a special luncheon in the hospital’s cafeteria. As soon as the mother left the room, Weaver cut off the infant’s ankle bracelet, which triggered an alarm. The suspect had a bag containing clothes for a newborn girl. The baby was not injured during the ordeal.
Weaver pleaded guilty to the crime and served a two-month sentence. She is now on probation for three years, must register as a sex offender and is required to receive treatment for depression. Authorities say she is no longer a threat.
Authorities suspect that before the April 19 incident, Weaver pulled a knife on a pregnant woman in a parking lot. They also believe she posed as a nurse and cased the Maria Parham Hospital, according to WTVT-TV.
Weaver pleaded not guilty to the knife incident, and no charges were filed in the Maria Parham case.
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