Police: Kidnapped Tennessee newborn found safe in Alabama

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A newborn boy abducted by a knife-wielding woman posing as an immigration agent was safe Saturday and being held by child- welfare officials as authorities charged a woman with his kidnapping.

Rob Johnson, a spokesman for the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, said Maria Gurrolla got to hold her week-old baby, Yair Anthony Carillo, on Saturday afternoon but was not being allowed to take him home yet. Gurrolla, 30, and her three other children — age 3, 9 and 11 — visited with the baby, then all four of the children were taken into state custody, Johnson said.

“Our focus is on the children, and under the current situation right now, we think the safest thing to do is take the children into state custody,” said Johnson, who declined to elaborate.

Joel Siskovic, an FBI special agent in the Memphis division, said he did not have details about whether the parents were also under protective custody. “As of now, there’s no indication that there’s an ongoing threat to the family,” he said.

Nashville police said the baby was found in good health at a home in Ardmore, Ala., about 80 miles south of Nashville near the Tennessee line.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Mark Gwyn identified the arrested woman as Tammy Renee Silas, 39, of Ardmore. Federal authorities formally charged her Saturday with kidnapping.