In a heart-stopping moment, two abandoned baby girls were found in a ditch in Indianapolis after being kidnapped earlier that morning.
Robert Deane, a resident of the area, was shocked to discover the infants while stepping outside to collect a package.
He noticed two car seats lying in the ditch and was horrified to find the babies inside, both of whom had been reported missing after a 2013 Hyundai Sonata was stolen with them in the backseat.
The babies, aged four and five months, were reported missing around 11 AM on Monday.
Authorities believe they were taken while the car was unattended. By the time they were discovered, the temperature had dropped below freezing, reaching 27°F (-3°C) on the southeast side of Indianapolis, only about four miles from where the car had been stolen.
The babies’ safety was uncertain due to the freezing conditions, but thanks to Deane’s quick thinking, they were brought inside and warmed up.
Police are investigating the kidnapping and have urged the public to come forward with any information.“One of them was screaming, so I immediately grabbed the car seats, and brought them inside. We got them warmed up and called 911,” Deane told CBS4.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) was quick to respond to both the car theft and the discovery of the babies.
Although the authorities have not disclosed details about how the vehicle was stolen or whether the babies were left unattended, they have confirmed that both infants were safe and in good health.
Police spokesperson William Young expressed relief that the children were found, saying, “It’s cold out here. Who knows what could have happened if this particular individual was not able to come outside.”
IMPD has asked the community to help locate the stolen vehicle, a 2013 Hyundai Sonata with the license plate 364CMU. Police continue to investigate the incident and seek any leads on the kidnapping.