Teen Girl Stalked Mom Before Snatching Her Baby

Andrea Walker, 19, is charged with taking the infant from his car seat.

ByABC News via logo
November 24, 2009, 11:42 AM

Nov. 25, 2009— -- A teenage girl was charged today with following a young mother and her child for hours before snatching her 1-month-old baby from a post office parking lot while the mom was inside, authorities said today.

Baby Angel Miguel Perez was reunited with his family early today after being found unharmed with 19-year-old Andrea Walker.

North Charleston police spokesman Spencer Pryor said Walker had been trailing the baby's mother, Lydia Juarez, for more than two hours while she did her errands Monday.

Juarez left Angel, who was born Oct. 17, strapped in his car seat at a post office parking lot with the motor running about 5 p.m. while she ran inside to buy stamps. When Juarez returned, Angel was gone.

An Amber Alert was issued and the FBI offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to Angel's recovery and the identification and arrest of his kidnapper. The alert produced tips that led police to Walker shortly after midnight today, Pryor said.

Walker, who was found with the baby about 20 miles from where he disappeared, has been arrested and charged with kidnapping. Her motive is not yet known and authorities did not specify whether the teen knew the baby.

"What a great way to lead into Thanksgiving," Pryor said at a news conference today.

At the news conference, the boy's father, Miguel Perez-Palma, said through an interpreter, "Thank you everybody for the help and the return of our baby."

It was unclear today if the tipster will earn the reward.

Pryor refused to say if police are investigating Juarez for leaving the baby alone.

"I'm not going to rain on the parade," Pryor said. "I'm just going to say we're very grateful to return this child to the parents."