Baby Gabriel Johnson Mom: Seen W/ Baby Broker & Adoptive Parents; Her Arrest in Miami

In Phoenix Arizona, a Maricopa County Court document date-stamped January 11 2010 gives a few details about Elizabeth Johnson's arrest on December 30, 2009. Johnson, 23, is the mother and kidnapper of nine-month-old Gabriel Johnson. The baby boy was last seen, with his mother, on December 26 in San Antonio Texas. Johnson either gave him away or killed him. Or more likely- sold him to an underground adoption agency. The events surrounding Johnson's arrest are as follows...

Law Enforcement learned early on in the investigation that Johnson stayed at two San Antonio motels- the HomeGate Studios & Suites and the Quality Inn & Suites- from December 20-27. A court document states that Johnson was seen with a Hispanic man at both hotels and was seen riding with him in a 'smaller' SUV. The Hispanic man is said to be in his mid to late twenties and stands at about 5'9". Johnson was also seen with him along with a couple in their mid-thirties. If an illegal adoption occurred, then the Hispanic man may have been a baby broker and the couple would have been the illegal adoptive parents.

According to the first-mentioned court document, Johnson sent a text message on December 27 to Baby Gabriel's father, Logan McQueary- in Tempe Arizona- that said 'I killed him'. She also phoned McQueary and told him the same thing. She even detailed her method of murder. McQueary went to the Tempe Police on 120E 5th Street and reported Johnson's messages.

Sgt. Lenzen called Johnson. He instructed her to contact Texas Law Enforcement and show that Baby Gabriel was alive. Johnson refused. She did however inform Sgt. Lenzen that she had a scheduled court appearance in Arizona regarding Baby Gabriel.

Johnson was scheduled to attend Maricopa County Superior Court on December 28 regarding a petition to enforce Child Custody Determination. Johnson had kidnapped Baby Gabriel on December 18- just two days before she was due to hand him over to McQueary per a court decree on the estranged couple's parenting time.

On December 27, Johnson left the Quality Inn without checking out. She left baby items that included a portable crib and Baby Gabriel's hospital identification bracelet from his birth. Knowing she would miss the court appearance, Johnson caught a Florida-bound bus.

On December 28, Maricopa County Court Judge McVey awarded full custody of Baby Gabriel to Logan McQueary and issued a warrant for Custodial Interference on Elizabeth Johnson. Person of interest Tammi Smith, who had hoped to adopt Baby Gabriel, tried to advise Johnson about her missed court appearance.

On December 29 and 30, Johnson used a computer at a library near the International Fun Hostel in Miami Beach where she was staying. On those dates, she sent messages to Tammi Smith's MySpace page. FBI agents in Florida traced Johnson's location via her computer use. On December 30, the Miami Beach police placed her under arrest.

An FBI agent questioned Johnson shortly after her arrest. She was hazy regarding the whereabouts of Baby Gabriel. A Maricopa County Superior Court document states that Johnson said she met up with strangers- a couple- on Christmas Day in a park. The couple wanted to adopt Baby Gabriel. Johnson told the FBI agent that she signed an adoption form the next day and gave Gabriel to the couple in the Quality Inn parking lot. In another story, Johnson said that the couple came to her room to collect Gabriel.

After her arrest, Johnson was placed in a Miami Beach jail. Johnson was extradited to Arizona on January 10. In the Arizona court document detailing Johnson's Florida arrest, Detective Patricia Ramirez indicates that Johnson is 'Mentally Disturbed'. Johnson is presently in Estrella Jail and and held on $1.1 million cash-only bond. Her formal charges are Kidnapping, Child Abuse, Conspiracy to Commit Custodial Interference, and Custodial Interference.

Hope that Baby Gabriel is alive remains optimistic. If you have seen Baby Gabriel or know where he might be, please submit a tip to JJArmes/BabyGabriel.

Sources: east valley tribune; cnn transcripts; court documents in pdfs