Missing Baby Gabriel Johnson - Tammi Smith Hires High-Profile Attorney

Jack and Tammi Smith have hired high-profile attorney Michael D. Kimerer to represent them in the case of missing Baby Gabriel. They had hoped to adopt missing Baby Gabriel- until his mother Elizabeth Johnson fled with him and then either killed, sold, or gave him away. Gabriel was last seen on December 26, 2009 in San Antonio Texas- 978 miles from his Tempe Arizona home. Their lawyer, Kimerer, has told the North Valley couple to refuse further news media interviews.

Kimerer, is a criminal defense practitioner who is admitted to practice in Arizona and California courts, state and federal, as well as before the U.S. Supreme Court. Arizona. He has represented corporate executives and also defendants in death-penalty cases. High-profile cases include Debra Jean Milke and somnambulist Scott Falater.

When contacted by AZ Central 12 News regarding Kimerer, Jack Smith made but one comment- that he and his wife believed the time had come to hire a lawyer. 12 News also reported the Smiths as being concerned the police are trying to build a case against them.

According to a news report by CBS5 affiliate KPHO, the Smiths' concern is based on reality. Tempe police are building a strong 'Case of Conspiracy to Commit Custodial Interference' against Johnson and Smith. Johnson has already been charged with the crime (along with three others). For help in building the conspiracy case, Tempe police called on Logan McQueary, the father of missing baby Gabriel Johnson.

On Monday January 26 2010, McQueary turned over all recorded conversations and text messages not only between him and ex-girlfriend Johnson but also between him and Jack and Tammi Smith. The police made copies of all. The Smiths allege that McQueary has 'cut and pasted' recordings.

McQueary recently showed AZ Central 12 News a text message that he says the Smiths sent to him on December 22, four days after Johnson ran away with Baby Gabriel. The text said, "Can we get together tomorrow morning to talk with you and your dad [Frank McQueary]? I'm afraid she [Johnson]'ll be gone forever, cause she doesn't want to go to jail for kidnapping. She doesn't trust u or ur dad. The only way she'll come back is if my attorney faxes the signed papers to her so she won't get in trouble, and Gabriel b w/us". McQueary has said the Smiths tried to pressure him into signing adoption papers. The Smiths have denied it. They maintain that they were relaying Johnson's messages to him. Tammi Smith says she and her husband were played by Johnson.