A Louisiana woman was arrested last week for attempting to steal a baby from a children’s hospital.
Investigators said Dinesty Selmon, 21, cased Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge for weeks — even getting an access card in that time. WAFB reported that Selmon eventually found a 9-month-old boy in a hospital room without his parents, and read his medical chart.
Selmon allegedly also called her boyfriend and told him she had a baby while out of town and the baby was getting care in Baton Rouge. WAFB reported that the baby Selmon tried to take was in intensive care and their parents did not live in Baton Rouge.
“She even took the young man to the hospital to visit with several doctors in hopes to schedule false or fictitious medical appointments for the child,” officer Darren Ahmed told the news outlet.
However, suspicions arose after the boyfriend came to the hospital and noticed the name on the door did not match the name Selmon gave him. The boyfriend took these concerns to a family friend who is a nurse. The hospital was notified of the apparent breach shortly thereafter.
WAFB reported that Selmon, her boyfriend, and his family returned to the hospital and were met by security. Selmon presented her ID and was ousted from the hospital after surrending the access card she allegedly stole.
Selmon was arrested two weeks after that incident, on March 26. Though police said the baby was never taken out of the hospital room, Selmon was charged with attempted kidnapping and unauthorized entry of a business.
Samaria Phillips, an acquaintance of Selmon’s, recently told WAFB that her mother gave birth in December and Selmon would come over uninvited to take pictures of the baby. Phillips claimed they eventually discovered that Selmon was claiming the baby as hers on social media.
“She’s got people believing that she had this baby. From the ultrasounds to my baby’s playpen to his swing to even in the hospital. Those are my experiences and she posted them like they was hers,” Phillips’ mother alleged.
Phillips and her mother claimed they last saw Selmon on March 23, when she said she was going to Baton Rouge. Phillips’ mother said Selmon’s scheme was fully exposed following her arrest last week.
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[Feature Photo: Dinesty Selmon/Baton Rouge Police Department]
