Kristen Smith, the woman accused of kidnapping her Wisconsin nephew, has pleaded not guilty in federal court.
KCRG reported that in Wisconsin federal court on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 the 31-year-old Colorado woman entered a not guilty plea to one count of kidnapping. Smith was accused of taking her newborn nephew, Kayden Powell, from his Wisconsin home on Thursday, February 6.
Previous reports indicate Kayden was reported missing by his mother, 18-year-old Brianna Marshall around 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 6.
Marshall told police that Smith, her sister, had been at her Wisconsin home and had planned to leave that day to drive back to Colorado.
That morning, Beloit Police spoke with Smith, who was on her way back to Colorado. She was instructed to pull over at the nearest gas station so that local police could talk with her about the missing child. Smith contacted police around 5:30 a.m. Thursday, February 6 once she arrived at gas station in West Branch, Iowa.
Court records show that a West Brach police officer searched Smith’s car but did not find Kayden. The officer did find baby clothes, a stroller, and a fake pregnancy belly. She was arrested on an unrelated charge.
The next day, the missing baby was reportedly found behind a West Branch gas station wrapped in blankets inside of a plastic tote box.
KCRG reported that a trial date has been set for Smith on June 23 in Madison, Wisconsin.
