Kidnapped Baby Found
Sept. 20, 2006 — -- For the first time in five days, baby Abby Woods is waking up surrounded by loved ones, much to the relief of her family and the Union, Mo., community.
"I'm just so happy. God answered everybody's prayers," said Sheila Woods, Abby's grandmother.
The baby was recovered a few miles from her home, the place where she was kidnapped and her mother was stabbed last Friday.
Police arrested Shannon Beck, who had been pregnant up until the morning of the abduction.
"Friday, Shannon Beck miscarries. Friday, Abigail goes missing," said FBI special agent Roland Corvington.
Having lost her baby, Beck fit investigators' expectations.
"It's kind of one of the scenarios we mentioned may happen where a mother just lost a child and is looking to replace it," said Sheriff Gary Toelke of the Franklin County Sheriff's Department.
The tip that broke the case came from Beck's sister-in-law.
She became suspicious after discovering the well-publicized strawberry birthmark on the baby's face, which Beck had allegedly tried to hide with makeup.
According to Toelke, when officials arrived at Beck's home to investigate, the mark wasn't pronounced.
When Beck's sister-in-law started rubbing Abby's forehead, however, "the makeup started coming off, and that's when we knew that this was Abigail," Toelke said.
Abby was rushed to the hospital, but doctors said she was healthy enough to go home.
"The baby's well. The baby's feeding. Things are well," said Dr. Peter McCarthy of St. John's Hospital.
Beck is now being held at the Franklin County Sheriff's Department.
Criminal charges could be filed against her as early as today.
On "Good Morning America" today, Abby's mother, Stephanie Ochsenbine, told Robin Roberts that her baby was doing very well.
Asked how she reacted when Abby was returned to her, Ochsenbine said, "I cried. I cried. I was very happy."
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