A man and woman from Florida allegedly dressed up as Amazon drivers and then kidnapped a 7-month-old baby from a relative’s home in Washington, according to authorities.
An affidavit obtained by KCPQ-TV shows Marlly Ardila-Urrego, 33, told the child’s mother, her relative, that she bought a new bed for the infant and it would be delivered to her home in Federal Way on Feb. 20.
The woman and her family moved into their residence about a week before the alleged abduction occurred, officials said.
On Feb. 20, Arila-Urrego’s partner, 42-year-old Chun Lai, is accused of going to the woman’s house holding a box and clipboard and disguised as an Amazon employee.
Lai knocked on the door and when the woman answered, he allegedly punched her in the face several times and bound her ankles and wrists with zip ties, law enforcement officials said in the affidavit.
Ardila-Urrego, authorities said, entered the home and restrained the mother as Lai picked up the baby and put it in the Amazon box.
Lai forced the mother and a 2-year-old child into a bedroom, where he gaged the woman with the child’s clothes, the affidavit states.
The woman was able to free herself from the ties and called 911. She ran outside with the 2-year-old to search for her baby, authorities said.
When talking with authorities, the woman’s father said he suspected Ardila-Urrego played a role in the kidnapping because she was adamant about getting the woman’s new address and they did not have a close relationship before this.
Prior to the incident, officials said, Ardila-Urrego allegedly told family members that she wanted to become a surrogate to make $70,000, and she allegedly spoke about having a child and then selling the infant.
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Officers were able track down the couple on the highway about 180 miles from Federal Way in a vehicle registered to Lai.
The child was reportedly found inside the car and police confirmed the girl’s identity.
Ardila-Urrego and Lai were arrested and charged with first-degree kidnapping, robbery, assault, and burglary, officials said.
They were both booked into jail and each were being held on $750,000 bail.
Court documents state there was “no evidence that mental illness or substance abuse contributed to this crime.”
Senior Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Phillips called the case "extraordinarily unusual.”
