ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Last year there were no reported successful baby abductions by non-family members from healthcare facilities, according to statistics just released by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the International Association For Healthcare Safety and Security (IAHSS), and the FBI.
In 2004, two infant/newborn abductions from medical centers were reported, and in 2003 one was reported. All of the infants in those cases were recovered unharmed. This is a significant reduction compared to 1991 when 11 infants/newborns were abducted from healthcare facilities.
Since 1983, there have been a total of 237 infant/newborn abductions from healthcare facilities, homes and “other places” by non-family members. A total of 11 abductees are still missing.
About 50 percent or 119 of the abductions occurred at healthcare facilities, mostly from the mother’s room (56 percent). Of the infants/newborns taken from medical centers, 14 percent were from the nursery, 14 percent were from pediatrics and 15 percent were from some other area “on premises.” Of the 119 babies kidnapped from medical providers, all but five were located.
The states with the highest overall number of infant/newborn abductions (from 1983 to 2006) were California (31), Texas (30), Florida (16), Illinois (13) and New York (10).
For more information on the NCMEC, go to www.missingkids.com. For more information on the IAHSS, go to www.iahss.org.
