Albany Woman Charged in Attempted Baby Theft

Detectives believe the suspect has displayed similar behavior at other hospitals, they want to hear from anyone who may have additional information.

(ALBANY, Ore.) - Albany Police detectives arrested a 25-year old woman around 10:00 a.m. this morning for attempting to kidnap an infant from Samaritan Albany General Hospital on September 19, 2009.

Albany Police Captain Eric Carter, says Trinity Hanley Louise Vidal-Hernandez of Albany was arrested for second-degree Attempted Kidnapping, Initiating a False Report, second-degree Disorderly Conduct and second-degree Criminal Mischief.

Carer says the investigation began on the morning of September 19th, when hospital staff reported concerns that Trinity Vidal-Hernandez was attempting to abduct an infant.

"The investigation revealed that on the morning of September 19, 2009, Trinity Vidal-Hernandez came to Samaritan Albany General Hospital and reported that her friend called her and stated she was giving birth to triplets on the side of the road in the Linn County area. Trinity Vidal-Hernandez further reported that her friend was being transported by Life Flight to a Eugene area hospital."

He says hospital staff checked Linn and Benton County 911 centers, Reach and Life Flight and learned there was no record of anyone being transported under the circumstances that Trinity Vidal-Hernandez reported.

"Trinity Vidal-Hernandez began to tell hospital staff that she was receiving calls on her cell phone from her friend and led staff to believe that her friend might be coming to Samaritan Albany General Hospital. Hospital staff was re-assigned from their current duties to prepare for the possible arrival of the medical emergency that was being reported by Trinity Vidal-Hernandez."

But Carter says during this time, staff noticed that Trinity Vidal-Hernandez walked off.

"Hospital staff became concerned and checked the maternity ward. Staff located Trinity Vidal-Hernandez at the maternity ward nurses station and escorted her off of the floor and contacted the Albany Police Department."

Trinity Vidal-Hernandez reportedly provided a similar statement to the responding officers and even showed them a photo of what appeared to be a newborn infant which she claimed that her friend had sent it to her.

Carter says Albany Police detectives concluded that Trinity Vidal-Hernandez's intent on September 19, 2009, was to take an infant from the maternity ward.

"The investigation revealed that the report Trinity Vidal-Hernandez made to Samaritan Albany General Hospital staff and responding Albany Police officers on September 19, 2009, was false," Carter said. "Trinity Vidal-Hernandez led family members to believe that she was employed at Samaritan Albany General Hospital at various times over the past year. Most recently she led her family to believe that she was working at the hospital as of August of 2009. During this time Trinity Vidal-Hernandez began to routinely spend time at the hospital and some point began to wear 'scrubs' while at the hospital."

This investigation is ongoing and detectives have reason to believe that Trinity Vidal-Hernandez has displayed similar behavior at other hospitals. Anyone with information regarding this investigation or Trinity Vidal-Hernandez is asked to call Albany Police detectives at 541-917-7686.