ST. CHARLES COUNTY, MO (KMOX) - (Updated 5 pm Tuesday) Prosecutors believe a St. Charles County girl and her mother may be near Utah, a day after the child was taken by force from a supervised visit. St. Charles County Prosecutor Tim Lohmar has announced charges against 35-year-old Valerie Jean Baker.
Lohmar's office issued a statement saying Baker is now charged with Interference with Custody and Assault 4th degree. "The elements of the more serious offenses of Kidnapping and Parental Kidnapping do not apply at the present time. This investigation remains active, and other charges may be considered based upon additional evidence."
Baker was stripped of custody of her two children last fall. She was meeting at the St. Charles County Boone’s Trail branch library Monday afternoon for the supervised visit. Baker is accused of assaulting a caseworker as she took 7-year-old Piper Johnson from the library Monday afternoon. An older child was able to get away. Baker does not have legal custody of her children.
A license plate reader recorded Baker's vehicle, a navy Corolla in Colorado, west of Denver nearing the Utah border Tuesday morning.
(Previous story) St. Charles County Police are searching for a 7-year-old girl they say was taken by her mother during a supervised visit.
Investigators say Piper Johnson was last seen around 3:30 p.m., Monday, March 7 at the St. Charles County Boone's Trail Library Branch. Witnesses say during that supervised visit, the girl's mother, Valarie Baker, used physical force to take Piper from the library, pushing a caseworker out of the way.
Baker was last seen in a navy blue 2018 Toyota Corolla with front end damage. Missouri plates CW8 Z1G.
St. Louis County Police are asking anyone who might of Piper and/or Valarie Baker’s whereabouts, to immediately dial 911 or call 636-949-3000.
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