Atlanta police arrested Lakesha Brown after two young sisters were allegedly abducted while in her care Saturday night. Four-year-old Zola Cooper and 11-month-old Norah Cooper were found safe Monday in the Sylvan Road area after officers used technology to locate them. Authorities said Brown had gained the trust of the girls’ mother before agreeing to babysit them. Investigators also linked Brown to a 2021 Alabama case involving the alleged kidnapping of a four-day-old infant.
| 1) | Investigation and Safe Recovery |
| 2) | Babysitting Arrangement and Disappearance |
| 3) | Prior Alabama Kidnapping Case |
| 4) | Police Search and Evidence |
| 5) | Current Case and Family Safety |
Investigation and Safe Recovery
The Atlanta Police Department said officers recovered Zola Cooper and Norah Cooper safely on Monday afternoon. The sisters had been considered to be in extreme danger after their mother reported them missing late Saturday night. Officers followed technological information that directed investigators to the Sylvan Road area in Atlanta.
When officers arrived, they heard crying and located the children. They brought both girls to safety, ending a search that involved investigators from Georgia and Alabama. Police then arrested Lakesha Brown, who was accused of taking the children while serving as their babysitter.
Babysitting Arrangement and Disappearance
Police said the girls’ mother left them in Brown’s care at approximately 6 p.m. Saturday while she went to dinner. Authorities alleged that Brown had built the mother’s trust before agreeing to watch the children.
The mother returned from dinner and was unable to contact Brown. She called police minutes later, and the children were reported missing at about 10:30 p.m. Investigators treated the disappearance as an urgent matter because one child was 11 months old and the other was four years old.
Prior Alabama Kidnapping Case
Atlanta police said Brown had previously been accused in a similar case in Alabama. Investigators there said she was arrested in August 2021 in connection with the kidnapping of Kamarion Taylor, who was four days old at the time.
According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Brown allegedly gained the confidence of Kamarion Taylor’s mother and grandmother before taking the infant while the mother was asleep. The sheriff’s office said the mother woke to find that the baby and Brown were both gone.
“When Kamarion’s mother awoke, the baby was nowhere to be found. Lakesha was also gone,” the sheriff’s office said.
The account said the mother contacted Brown and was told that the infant was in his playpen, where Brown had placed him before leaving. Investigators later recovered the child safely, and Brown was booked into jail in that case.
Police Search and Evidence
The search for the Atlanta children continued for several hours and included police and investigators from both Georgia and Alabama. Authorities did not disclose the specific technology used to identify the Sylvan Road area, but said it provided the location that led officers to the girls.
The officers’ response combined location information with an immediate physical search. Hearing crying helped them identify the children after reaching the area. Police then secured the sisters and continued the investigation into how they were allegedly taken from the babysitting arrangement.
Current Case and Family Safety
Brown was arrested in Atlanta in connection with the alleged kidnapping of Zola Cooper and Norah Cooper. The available account did not provide details about the specific charges, a court date, or an attorney representing Brown in the Georgia case.
The children’s safe recovery was the immediate priority for police and their family. Authorities’ reference to Brown’s earlier Alabama case is part of the investigation, while the Atlanta allegations remain accusations unless established in court.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Two Atlanta sisters, ages four and 11 months, were recovered safely. |
| 2 | Police arrested babysitter Lakesha Brown after the children disappeared Saturday night. |
| 3 | Technology led officers to the Sylvan Road area, where they heard crying. |
| 4 | Brown was previously accused of abducting a four-day-old infant in Alabama in 2021. |
Summary
The case ended with the safe recovery of the two Atlanta sisters and the arrest of their babysitter. Police are investigating the current allegations alongside Brown’s reported history in Alabama, while the legal process will determine the facts and any applicable charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Atlanta case?
Atlanta police arrested Lakesha Brown, who was accused of kidnapping two sisters while caring for them.
Where were the children found?
Officers located Zola Cooper and Norah Cooper in the Sylvan Road area of Atlanta after technology directed investigators there.
Was Brown connected to an earlier case?
Police said Brown had previously been accused in Alabama of kidnapping Kamarion Taylor, a four-day-old infant, in August 2021.
