Couple shocked to learn they were babysitting a kidnapped child
RENTON, Wash. -- In a bizarre twist to a violent kidnapping, a Renton couple was stunned to learn the child they were babysitting had been abducted.
"It's probably the craziest thing I've ever heard," said John Truong moments after police took custody of the 2-year-old boy. "It's like something out of a movie."
Authorities issued an Amber Alert Tuesday night after learning the toddler and his mother had been kidnapped from their home in Des Moines. Tuong and his wife didn't know about the alert until early the next morning.
"I'm eating my breakfast, I'm checking my Facebook, all of a sudden I see this Amber Alert for this child," recounted Tuong. "And it looks like this child in my bed, and I'm like, 'Oh my God! What's going on?' "
He called police, who arrived to find the boy safe and sound. Tuong then explained to detectives how the boy he had never seen before ended up at his house.
"It was my sister who had asked me as a favor to watch her boyfriend's son. And that's how he came and was dropped off," Tuong said.
The sister told Tuong she and her boyfriend were planning an overnight date and she would pick up the boy in the morning. She never returned and did not answer texts from her concerned brother.
Police have arrested the sister in connection with the kidnapping. They say she and the child's grandmother allegedly went to the boy's home Tuesday, incapacitated his mother with a Taser, and drove both to another house in Fife where they tied up the mother in the garage.
The mother escaped and ran to a neighbor's house for help. It appeared she was not seriously hurt.
Authorities made public the fact they were looking for the grandmother, who voluntarily came to the police station where she was questioned for hours.
The babysitters who took care of the boy for the night say he seemed content.
"He was a great kid. He didn't cry much or anything. He enjoyed my dog's company and my children's company," Tuong said. "Everything seemed great and then all of a sudden I'm eating breakfast and it turns out to be this."
Tuong is still shocked to learn his sister, identified by police as Alyssa M. Chang, has been arrested in connection with the abduction and is waiting to learn more from police. Thursday, Chang was ordered held on $250,000 bail for investigation of kidnapping, assault and unlawful imprisonment.
"I feel like she was just helping her boyfriend out and just got into this horrible situation," he said. "We're family people, this is definitely not like this. Honestly I'm at a loss for words right now. It's just crazy.
"It's probably the craziest thing I've ever heard," said John Truong moments after police took custody of the 2-year-old boy. "It's like something out of a movie."
Authorities issued an Amber Alert Tuesday night after learning the toddler and his mother had been kidnapped from their home in Des Moines. Tuong and his wife didn't know about the alert until early the next morning.
"I'm eating my breakfast, I'm checking my Facebook, all of a sudden I see this Amber Alert for this child," recounted Tuong. "And it looks like this child in my bed, and I'm like, 'Oh my God! What's going on?' "
He called police, who arrived to find the boy safe and sound. Tuong then explained to detectives how the boy he had never seen before ended up at his house.
"It was my sister who had asked me as a favor to watch her boyfriend's son. And that's how he came and was dropped off," Tuong said.
The sister told Tuong she and her boyfriend were planning an overnight date and she would pick up the boy in the morning. She never returned and did not answer texts from her concerned brother.
Police have arrested the sister in connection with the kidnapping. They say she and the child's grandmother allegedly went to the boy's home Tuesday, incapacitated his mother with a Taser, and drove both to another house in Fife where they tied up the mother in the garage.
The mother escaped and ran to a neighbor's house for help. It appeared she was not seriously hurt.
Authorities made public the fact they were looking for the grandmother, who voluntarily came to the police station where she was questioned for hours.
The babysitters who took care of the boy for the night say he seemed content.
"He was a great kid. He didn't cry much or anything. He enjoyed my dog's company and my children's company," Tuong said. "Everything seemed great and then all of a sudden I'm eating breakfast and it turns out to be this."
Tuong is still shocked to learn his sister, identified by police as Alyssa M. Chang, has been arrested in connection with the abduction and is waiting to learn more from police. Thursday, Chang was ordered held on $250,000 bail for investigation of kidnapping, assault and unlawful imprisonment.
"I feel like she was just helping her boyfriend out and just got into this horrible situation," he said. "We're family people, this is definitely not like this. Honestly I'm at a loss for words right now. It's just crazy.
