Ann Pettway, woman who snatched a baby from NYC hospital, awaits sentence

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

Ann Pettway

/ AP/Wake Cty Bureau of Ident.

(CBS/AP) NEW YORK - Ann Pettway, the woman who admitted kidnapping a newborn from a New York City hospital more than two decades ago and raised the girl as her own, will reportedly be sentenced in July. CNN reports that her sentenced date, which was initially set for today has been moved to July 6.

During her trial, the 51-year-old recounted how she took a train from her home in Bridgeport, Conn. to Harlem hospital in 1987 and scooped up Carlina White, a 3-week-old baby who had been brought to the emergency room by her parents.

According to court documents, the FBI said Pettway took the baby after her own childbearing efforts failed.

As part of her plea bargain, prosecutors agreed to recommend between 10 and 12 1/2 years in prison, although the actual term will be set by a judge. CNN reports that she may face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The mystery of the kidnapping was solved by Carlina herself, who had come to be suspicious about her own identity as she aged into adulthood.

After growing up in Bridgeport under the name Nejdra Nance, White eventually took to browsing the website of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for clues to her identity. After matching a photo of herself with one on the site, she tracked down her true mother. The two reunited in January of 2011.

Complete Coverage of the Carlina White Case on Crimesider

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