Police: Woman took daughter away from legal guardians over possible Kenwood shopping ploy

CINCINNATI (WXIX) – The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a 10-month-old baby who was allegedly taken by her non-custodial biological mother.

Valerie Lala Williams was last seen with her mother, Monica George, 25, leaving the Kenwood Towne Center in Sycamore Township on Tuesday, according to the sheriff’s office.

George may have gotten into a white Ford F-150, and Valerie drove off Dillard’s Galbraith Road, the sheriff’s office added. The truck has a Michigan license plate (ENK6403).

George is charged with interfering with custody, a fifth-degree felony.

The default offense is a misdemeanor under the Revised Ohio Code, unless the individual is “removed from the state or if the offender has not previously been convicted” of the same offense.

Police statements state that George crossed the state line with Valerie after he left the Kenwood Towne Center.

The affidavit states that Valerie’s legal guardians, her grandparents, gave George permission to take Valerie to Kenwood for shopping. The grandparents allegedly waited in the mall’s parking lot while George and Valerie shopped, during which time they sent several messages to George asking for news.

After several messages, according to the affidavit, George’s mobile phone was turned off and communication between her and her parents ceased.

Shortly thereafter, according to the affidavit, George sent a message to her parents that she had been taken in by Valerie’s biological father, a man named Gino Williams.

The text allegedly indicates that George, Williams, and 10-month-old Valerie had already left the mall by the time the cell phone was switched off.

Sheriff’s investigators became aware of the situation sometime between late Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon, when they discovered that the trio had left for Illinois and were staying at a hotel there on Wednesday.

Valerie was missing as of 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, after which the sheriff’s office released her file.

The sheriff’s office says they were last seen at 210 22nd Street, Oak Brook, Illinois, at the Hyatt House Hotel.

George is described as 5’2″, 122 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Gino Williams is 5’7″, weighs 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. His last known address is in Troy, Michigan.

Valerie has black hair and brown eyes and weighs between 15 and 20 pounds.

If you have any information, call the Hamilton Sheriff’s Office at 513-586-5533.

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