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Attempted Florida baby abduction foiled

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Posted 8:10AM on Tuesday 21st May 2002 ( 23 years ago )
MIAMI - Two men impersonating state welfare workers attempted to abduct an 8-month-old baby by ordering her mother to hand over the child for medical tests, police said. <br> <br> Erika Higinio, 26, of Peru, said two Spanish-speaking men dressed in suits appeared at her apartment Monday, claiming they were from the Department of Children and Families and were there to take her baby, Eileen, for medical tests. <br> <br> The case resembled some of the circumstances in the disappearance of 5-year-old Rilya Wilson. One of Rilya&#39;s caretakers said someone claiming to be a department caseworker took the child away for tests in January 2001. The child has been missing since. <br> <br> ``We&#39;re not saying this has anything to do with the Rilya Wilson case,&#39;&#39; said Amy Salas-Jacobsen, of the Miami Police Department, ``but we know it&#39;ll be a concern for many people.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Higinio said the two men who came to her door, both about 35 years old, asked for a copy of the child&#39;s vaccination report. <br> <br> When Higinio refused, the men produced a pink form with the letters DCF on it for her to sign. They said she could legally release the child to them, and that they only needed to make sure the child was in good health and her vaccines up to date. <br> <br> Higinio closed her door and called the police, at which point the men disappeared. <br> <br> ``They were very insistent,&#39;&#39; Higinio said. ``They told me my baby needs help, but I told them I wasn&#39;t giving my baby over to strangers.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Salas-Jacobsen confirmed Higinio&#39;s report and said a search is underway for the suspects.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/5/202162

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