Nationwide — Michael Brown, a 29-year-old African American man from Houston, Texas, was arrested and charged with kidnapping after he allegedly took his 15-month-old nephew from his parents’ wedding celebration. Deputies found the toddler safe hours later and reunited him with his parents following an overnight search.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded shortly after midnight on July 19 to a report that a child had been taken from a wedding event center in Houston. Investigators said Brown allegedly left the celebration with the toddler without the parents’ knowledge or permission.
According to People, several relatives were taking turns watching the child while the parents celebrated their wedding. Around 10:30 p.m., Brown allegedly left the venue with the child and drove away without a car seat.
Authorities said Brown appeared to be intoxicated when he left with the toddler. The child’s parents tried contacting him, but their calls went straight to voicemail, and they could not find him at his home.
Deputies began searching for possible locations where Brown and the child could be found. Surveillance footage from the event center later helped investigators confirm that Brown had taken the toddler from the wedding.
Authorities located Brown and the child around 4 a.m. near North Paige Lane and Navigation, about 18 miles from the wedding venue. Investigators said the toddler was found safe while lying on Brown’s chest as he slept inside the vehicle.
Brown was taken into custody and charged with kidnapping. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the efforts of deputies and detectives helped safely reunite the child with his parents.