A pregnant mother shouted for help as a stranger claimed the toddler was her own, authorities said.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Deputies with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office detained a woman inside the Oklahoma County Courthouse on Wednesday after a pregnant mother reported the stranger tried to take her 2-year-old daughter from a hallway seat and insisted the child was hers, according to officials who responded within a minute.
Authorities said the girl was not hurt and was returned immediately to her mother. The confrontation unfolded in a public corridor of the downtown courthouse as people waited for hearings. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Aaron Brilbeck said deputies identified the woman quickly, noting they had prior contact with her, and took her into custody for questioning. As of Thursday evening, no formal charges had been announced. The episode rattled families and staff who were nearby and raised fresh questions about security and supervision in high-traffic areas of the courthouse where children sometimes accompany adults to proceedings.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the incident began when the mother, at court for an unrelated matter, noticed a woman approach her seated toddler. The mother later told deputies, “That lady came and tried to take my daughter,” describing how the stranger reached toward the child and asserted the girl was her own. The commotion drew attention as the mother yelled for help. Brilbeck said deputies “showed up less than a minute later,” separated the parties and escorted the woman away while verifying the child’s identity with the mother. Deputies then cleared the immediate area so families and attorneys could continue to nearby courtrooms. Officials said the mother’s quick reaction and loud call for help made it easier for nearby officers to respond.
Brilbeck, speaking by phone, said deputies recognized the woman and were able to identify her by name. He did not release the woman’s identity and said investigators were still gathering statements from the mother, courthouse security staff and other witnesses who were present in the hallway. He said the mother’s account remained consistent across interviews and that deputies found no evidence the child was connected to the woman who approached her. The Sheriff’s Office said the child was medically checked on scene and released to her mother. Investigators did not immediately list a motive, and officials said it was unknown whether the woman had any pending cases at the courthouse that day.
Courthouse corridors are often crowded on midweek dockets as people arrive for arraignments, protective-order hearings and civil matters. The Oklahoma County Courthouse, which sits along Park Avenue in downtown Oklahoma City, has a single point of entry with screening and uniformed deputies posted near court floors. Deputies said the encounter occurred beyond the main security checkpoint, in a public hallway where litigants typically wait to be called. Records show the Sheriff’s Office has increased courthouse staffing during busy morning dockets, and officials said uniformed presence routinely rotates among floors to respond to disturbances. Wednesday’s incident unfolded quickly, they said, and did not require a lockdown or courtroom evacuations. People resumed hearings on schedule after deputies interviewed witnesses and cleared the scene.
Investigators said they plan to submit a case to the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office once reports are complete. Potential counts under review include attempted kidnapping and disturbing the peace, though prosecutors will make the final charging decision. If charges are filed, the woman would be scheduled for an initial appearance in district court, followed by a probable-cause review. Brilbeck said the office would release the woman’s name if and when charges are accepted. Officials did not specify whether the woman remained in custody overnight or was transported for a mental health evaluation, saying only that the decision would be documented in the incident report. The Sheriff’s Office said additional video from body-worn cameras and courthouse security may be reviewed in the coming days.
People who were nearby described a burst of shouting that cut through the ambient hallway noise. A courthouse employee said he heard a woman yelling “That’s my daughter” as deputies converged from a nearby stairwell. “They were there fast, and you could hear the radios right away,” the employee said. Brilbeck praised the mother’s response, saying she “made a lot of noise very quickly” and that her alertness helped deputies intervene before the child left the mother’s side. The mother, who is pregnant, remained on scene to give a statement and left with her daughter after deputies finished interviews. Officials said the child was calm by the time they departed.
As of Friday morning, investigators had not released the woman’s identity or a motive and said the case file was still being compiled for prosecutors. The Sheriff’s Office said any charging decision would be announced once the District Attorney reviews the reports. Officials said they expect to provide an update early next week after additional interviews and video reviews are completed.
Author note: Last updated December 12, 2025.