Motive unclear in alleged kidnapping of SE Portland baby
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PORTLAND, Ore. – Mystery still surrounds a case of a 17-year-old accused of kidnapping her cousin’s infant boy and leaving him beneath a tree in someone’s yard in Northeast Portland.
Court documents released on Wednesday say Kabriana Harper told police she stole the 4-month-old because she was concerned for his welfare and safety. She didn’t tell police is how leaving him a front yard was better than him being at home.
Harper appeared in court on Wednesday. She will be tried as an adult because second-degree kidnapping is a Measure 11 offense.
Harper is being held on $250,000 bail. Her next court appearance is March 13.
Some family members attended the court hearing in support of Harper. Eugene McCullough, Harper’s great uncle, said he was flabbergasted by the allegations.
“She’s the most bubbliest girl in the world. Y’all got her locked up here with no motive,” he said. “What do you think happened? Y’all don’t know, so why y’all got her out here like this man?”
We also tried to speak with the baby’s mother, Angel Lee, on Wednesday afternoon. She declined comment.
The case surfaced at about 2 a.m. Tuesday, when the baby's mother reported him missing. Officers searched the neighborhood near the Cedar Tree Apartments, located at 239 Southeast 148th Avenue.
Five hours later, the baby was found by a resident in the 400 block of Northeast 139th Avenue. Medics took the boy to a hospital.
Police said Harper was staying with the baby's mother for a few days and took the boy early in the morning.
I don't think the $250,000 bond is high enough. Â After all, she's looking at life without parole. Â Plus, now we got an extra one of these animals to deal with. Â Â
Eugene should go back to eugene
Ok Uncle Eugene, she confessed!!! She admitted to leaving a helpless, 4 mos old baby, in the front yard of someones house, in 43 degree weather with a onsie and light blanket.  and I was confused by the comment, "You people have her locked up?" What did he mean by "you people"?  Â
@froggy_moore He means the "whitie"
I was going to say that maybe she left it on a porch and the baby crawled into the yard, but at 4 months old, the answer is no. Weird stuff, mang.
I've seen questionable status labor workers that speak better English than the uncle.Â
@KATUNews just evil
Note to Uncle Yuu-gene: don't need no stinkin' motive when the perp confesses... y'all.
I say the kidnapper was concerned about the welfare and safety of the child and was against it.
Anybody see the uncle on tv? He was pretty funny.
Cue banjo music...
#1 - Really, KATU? "She didnât tell police is how leaving him a front yard was better than him being at home."
I'm available for proofreading, if you need help *that* badly.
#2 - Someone that is "staying with family for a few days" is probably the best person in the world - unless there is a recent death or serious illness or injury of her parent(s) or custodians, she's probably in an unstable living situation due to her own actions. Given the kinds of actions that lead to teens not being home where they belong, anything she says is suspect and likely to be self-serving.
I saw the news segment on this story tonight, and I've decided that this is a mentally unstable family or something. The 17 year old probably needs to be evaluated and definitely needs a good attorney.
Something tells me there's more to this story.
And I thought this story couldn't get any weirder. Guess I was wrong.
@Peregrine Oh, c'mon -- every story on here can get weirder.