Toddler "John Doe" - 3 yo - Santa Cruz CA

by twinkletoes Sat Nov 20, 2010 12:01 am

Kidnapping suspect worked as stripper in Tampa

MANATEE — A 25-year-old Tampa Bay exotic dancer is awaiting extradition to California after she was arrested in Bradenton on a warrant for kidnapping her 3-year-old son.

Jacinta Redden, who had been staying Bradenton for at least a couple of weeks, had three children in tow when she showed up on a rainy day looking for a baby sitter, said William Olivero, a resident of the apartment complex where Redden had been staying.

One of the children, a 3-year-old boy, had a missing child alert issued after Redden fled with him on June 29 from California. The boy is Redden’s son, but she does not have custody, according to reports. She fled when the child’s father and her ex-husband was granted full custody, according to Santa Cruz County District Attorney.

Toddler "John Doe" - 3 yo - Santa Cruz CA Reddenjacintalg-1.embedded.prod_affiliate.69

Toddler "John Doe" - 3 yo - Santa Cruz CA Reddenjacintalg-1.embedded.prod_affiliate.69

Redden

Redden fled to the San Francisco Bay area where she remarried to the father of her youngest child. She also left him. He hasn’t seen his child in five weeks, Castellanos said.

A warrant was issued for Redden’s arrest out of Santa Cruz County, Calif. for a charge of parental abduction on Oct. 14.

At an apartment complex in the 4500 block of 19th Street Circle West, Redden went by the name “Winnie” and gave her missing son a new name of “Mickey.” She hired Olivero’s 17-year-old son to baby sit her children while she worked, Olivero said.

California authorities contacted the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office with information that Redden was in the area after the apartment complex she was staying in ran a background check on her. She was arrested late Wednesday evening, according to authorities.

Rumors were circulating around the apartment complex Redden had a warrant for her arrest.

“She seemed like a sweet girl doing everything for her kids,” said resident Brandon Dawson. Redden stayed with a couple of different people in the complex.

“She said the dad beat her and her kids. She said she had to get away. She never said she kidnapped them,” said Kerri Collett, a resident who also helped watch Redden’s children, ranging in ages between one and 8 years old. The 8-year-old was not enrolled in school, she said.

Child Protective Services took all three children into custody.