Police arrest 2 people for kidnapping of newborn infant in Worcester

WORCESTER, Mass. — Police have arrested a man and a woman for the kidnapping of a 4-day-old newborn in Worcester on Saturday.

Kassidy Lauziere-Cuevas, 19, of Millbury, and Daquan Jefferson, 23, of Worcester, were each charged with kidnapping and reckless endangerment of a child, police said. They will be arraigned in court at a later date.

Around 9:15 a.m. Saturday, Worcester Police officers responded to the area of 590 Southbridge St. for a report of a mother missing her 4-day-old baby. Worcester Police officers talked to the mother, who reported that she had been in frequent contact with an acquaintance, later identified as Lauziere-Cuevas, on Facebook.

The mother told police she had not met Lauziere-Cuevas in person, but that Lauziere-Cuevas had offered to pick her up so they could get together to grab coffee on Saturday.

The mother and her newborn baby got into Lauziere-Cuevas’ vehicle, police said. They stopped at the Gulf gas station at 590 Southbridge St, and the mother briefly entered the store. At this point, Lauziere-Cuevas drove away with the baby.

The mother came out of the store and immediately flagged down a Holy Cross police officer, who called Worcester Police to assist.

Worcester Police began an intensive search for the baby, Lauziere-Cuevas, and the vehicle.

Police sent out reverse 911 calls to alert the public to help with the search.

Around 10:10 a.m., the suspect vehicle was located by Shrewsbury Police in Shrewsbury, but neither Lauziere-Cuevas nor the baby were in the vehicle, police said.

Worcester Police officers received information that Lauziere-Cuevas might be with a male, later identified as Jefferson, and the baby in the Lincoln Street area.

Around 12:05 p.m., officers received a call that a male had left the baby with an uninvolved citizen at Subway at 490 Lincoln St. The citizen at Subway called police, and officers responded and the mother was reunited with her child, who appeared to be safe and unharmed.

Police later found Lauziere-Cuevas and Jefferson in the area of Wendy’s on Lincoln Street, where they were both placed under arrest.

Editor’s Note: Worcester Police initially posted that the baby was 4 months old, but corrected themselves to Boston 25 News that the infant is 4 days old.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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