Kamiyah Teresiah Tasha Mobley was only eight hours old when she was abducted from a Florida hospital on July 10, 1998. She was discovered alive in Walterboro, South Carolina, in January 2017. Alexis Kelli Manigo was her given name when she was born. But did you know who her abductor was and how she reunited with her family?
Gloria Williams admitted to impersonating a hospital employee and kidnapping Kamiyah Mobley from her mother’s arms in the maternity ward. She was sentenced to 18 years in prison, the length of time Mobley was separated from her birth family.
The Story About Kamiyah Mobley
The woman who admitted to stealing a newborn baby from a Jacksonville hospital 20 years ago was sentenced Friday to 18 years in prison for kidnapping and five years for interfering with child custody on a second charge.
Gloria Williams pleaded guilty earlier this year to impersonating a hospital employee and stealing 8-pound 2-ounce Kamiyah Mobley from her mother’s arms on July 10, 1998, before walking out of the hospital and driving to South Carolina.
There are no winners and no losers in this case. It’s a very sad case, and many people have suffered, including Ms. Williams, The family, in this case, suffered not knowing what happened to their child for approximately 18 years.
Marianne Aho, Circuit Judge
Williams will be given credit for the 511 days she has been in jail since her arrest, and the sentence will be served concurrently, so her total time in prison will be just under 17 years, according to Aho. Aho also ordered that Williams not profit from the crime in any way.
Williams, who remained emotionless as the sentence was read, was given 30 days to file an appeal, though she cannot appeal her guilty plea. Prosecutors were pleased with the sentence handed down to Williams.
Their punishment didn’t really have a joy to it. The happiness came from announcing to this family that we had found their daughter.
Alan Mizrahi, Assistant State Attorney
Mizrahi stated that having a victim who was not genuinely enraged at the defendant was unusual.
Craig Aiken, Kamiyah’s biological father, issued a brief statement thanking God, the investigators, prosecutors, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the community.
I believe now that this is over, we can continue on our journey of healing together as a family and support our daughter on her decision-making.
Craig Aiken, Kamiyah’s biological father
(Source: News 4 Jax)
Kamiyah Mobley’s Decision
Mobley wants Gloria Williams to spend a long time behind bars. To build a relationship with her child, Mobley wants to ensure Williams won’t be close by.
Mobley faced up to life in prison for first-degree kidnapping, but prosecutors agreed to a maximum sentence of 22 years in her plea agreement.
Aho stated in her sentencing statement that no violence was associated with Miss Mobley’s kidnapping and, while the court is sympathetic to a victim’s family, any kidnapping is especially cruel. Aho went to explain why she didn’t pursue a longer sentence.
This crime does appear to be an aberration in defendant’s character, as the vast majority of testimony presented indicated (the) defendant is a good person.
Marianne Aho, Circuit Judge
(Source: News 4 Jax)
Image from Action News Jax