MORGAN HILL
– An 11-month-old boy is the victim of a custody-related
kidnapping.
MORGAN HILL – An 11-month-old boy is the victim of a custody-related kidnapping.
Noah Serrano’s mother left the boy Saturday with his maternal grandmother, Marion Smith, 52, of Morgan Hill,. According to Police Lt. Joe Sampson, there was some discussion between the mother, Laura Cadei, and Smith about a relationship Cadei was involved in. There also was a disagreement, Sampson said, about the the relationship with the child’s father.
Cadei said that when she returned to Smith’s residence to pick up her son, she found the locks on the residence had been changed, and Smith was not answering her cell phone. She called family members and searched, and at 10 p.m. Sunday, Sampson said, she decided to go to police.
An Amber Alert was not posted because the child is not believed to be in danger.
“We do not suspect foul play,” he said Monday. “We believe the child will be well-taken care of by his grandmother. … We contacted family court and learned that she (Smith) had called yesterday to learn the procedure for a grandparent to obtain legal custody of a grandchild.”
Cadei has full custody of the child.
Sampson said he hopes anyone with information on the case will come forward.
“This is an unfortunate set of circumstances,” he said. “We hope (Smith) will change her mind, decide to do the right thing, and come to the police station. This is not the way to gain custody of the child.”
Smith is believed to be driving a silver 2003 Pontiac Grand Am, possibly with paper license plates.
Anyone with information may call the MHPD at 779-2101, or to report information anonymously, 778-7867.
