Missing Baby Gabriel Johnson: Landfill Search Continues; No Body Found Yet

Adoption Tales. Two long months have passed since blond blue-eyed Baby Gabriel Johnson, now ten months old, was last seen with his young beautiful mother, Elizabeth Johnson, on December 26 2009 in San Antonio Texas. Johnson kidnapped Baby Gabriel from their Tempe Arizona home and drove him to Texas in her grandfather's Oldsmobile. She was morally supported by the woman who had once hoped to adopt Baby Gabriel, Tammi Peters Smith.

On December 27, Johnson called the baby's father, Logan McQueary, and told him that she'd killed their baby. She also sent descriptive text messages telling him the same. She later retracted her story and told police that she'd given away Baby Gabriel to a couple. Evidence has since surfaced that she may have put Baby Gabriel up for an illegal underground adoption. This came after Johnson's persuasions, allegedly through the Smiths, failed to convince McQueary to sign adoption papers that would give Baby Gabriel to Jack and Tammi Smith. McQueary said that he repeatedly refused.

It is believed that Johnson took Baby Gabriel to Texas because, there, child custody laws allow fathers to be easily stripped of their paternity rights. While Johnson was in Texas, Scottsdale couple Jack and Tammi Smith told McQueary on more than one occasion- on Johnson's behalf- that Johnson would bring home Gabriel if he would sign the adoption papers.

Johnson is held on a $1.1 million cash-only bond in a Maricopa County jail in Phoenix Arizona on the charges of Conspiracy to Commit Custodial Interference, Custodial Interference, Child Abuse, and Kidnapping. Tammi Smith is out of jail on a $15,000 bond. Her charges connected with the case of missing Baby Gabriel are Forgery and Conspiracy to Commit Custodial Interference.

Because Johnson failed to appear for a custody hearing in Arizona on December 28, while in Texas, she lost custody of Baby Gabriel to McQueary and a warrant was issued on her for Custodial Interference. Smith tried to help Johnson just simply return to Arizona with Gabriel. She agreed. Then something scared her and she changed her mind again. Tammi Smith put Johnson in contact with Janet Morris of The Adoption Place in Tennessee with the hope that Morris could advise Johnson about changing jurisdiction. But it wasn't possible. Morris told Johnson to return to Arizona with baby Gabriel.

Landfill Search- No Body Found. The case of missing Baby Gabriel is a double investigation- a missing-person case and a homicide. Phase one of a landfill search based on where a body would be if Johnson's first story were true was conducted in early February. Phase 2 recently began with a team of 35 investigators- a mix of San Antonio police and FBI- with cadaver dogs. Weather conditions such as rain and then snow have hampered the progress by bringing the search to a halt on occasion. With no body yet found, the search continues.

Gabriel's father, Logan McQueary, is asking people to please keep e-mailing tips regarding the whereabouts of Baby Gabriel to gabrieljohnson.tips@gmail.com. McQueary is very thankful for everyone's help and support- and gathering of information. Yet, because tips go to so many different sources, information is beginning to 'fall through the cracks'. Therefore, McQueary requests that people email all tips here gabrieljohnson.tips@gmail.com. "If everyone can please use this email address, I will personally ensure everything is followed up on and the information gets to the proper authorities. Please also resend any tips you may have already submitted. Thank you again for all of your help," -Logan.

Sources: newsrunner; foxsanantonio; mysanantonio; boardhost; courtdocument