‘Persons Of Interest’ Named In Missing Tempe Infant Case of Gabriel Johnson~Phoenix Arizona
April 172010
Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Gabriel Johnson is urged to contact the Tempe Police Department at 480-350-8311 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377).
NEWS SOURCE ABC 15:
TEMPE, AZ “The Tempe Police Department has named a Scottsdale couple ‘persons of interest’ in their investigation to find a missing child.
According to police spokesperson Steve Carbajal, investigators believe Tammi and Jack Smith have undisclosed information that will lead them to baby Gabriel Johnson.
The Smiths had apparently tried to adopt the 8-month-old from mother Elizabeth Johnson last month, but Gabriel’s father refused to sign the adoption papers.
When that father, Logan McQueary, tried to gain custody of Gabriel, 23-year-old Elizabeth apparently disappeared with the infant.
Carbajal said Elizabeth initially told authorities she gave her baby to a couple she met in San Antonio while on the run after skipping out on a custodial hearing in Phoenix.
“They wanted the baby and she simply gave it to them,” said Bob Johnson, Elizabeth’s grandfather. “It sounded like a pretty weak story. It was almost on the border of unbelievable that a person would do that with an 8-month-old child.”
But Johnson also said he doesn’t believe the Smiths had anything to do with Gabriel’s disappearance.
“That’s ridiculous.. no, god, no,” he said.
Bob Johnson said Elizabeth met Tami Smith at an airport when Gabriel was just a month old. He said Gabriel was fussing and Tami came to help Elizabeth, and then cared for Gabriel the entire flight home. After that, they apparently kept in touch. Carbajal said Elizabeth left Arizona with Gabriel on December 18. There have been no signs of the boy since the day after Christmas.
Police did find Elizabeth in Florida last week and arrested her for failing to appear at her custodial hearing.
But Gabriel was not with her and detectives said she refused to tell them where he is.
“She was confronted, arrested and interviewed exhaustively about the whereabouts of the child,” said Wayne Jones, with Miami Beach Police.
Earlier this week, the Smiths defended Gabriel and Elizabeth on national TV.
“She’s completely innocent,” said Tammi, speaking about Elizabeth. “She loves that baby, and just wants to find a good home for that baby. As a mother, I commend her.”
Gabriel’s father, Logan McQueary, said Elizabeth had been pushing him to sign adoption papers granting the Smiths custody of Gabriel.
McQueary also said that after the baby disappeared, Smith approached him with similar requests.
“When Gabriel disappeared, they said basically, ‘if you really care about your son and you want him back, and you want Elizabeth to bring him back, that you’ll sign the paperwork and then she’ll bring him back to us, and you’ll know he’s safe,’” said McQueary. “I said, ‘no, I’m not signing any paperwork.’”
McQueary was on several TV morning shows Thursday, pleading to the public to get his son back.
“Please don’t be afraid of getting into trouble, just drop him off at a fire station, help me get my son back,” he said.
McQueary said he had previously received text messages from Gabriel’s mother saying she had killed the child.
“She basically said, ‘there’s no way in you’re ever seeing your son again,’” he said.
“Is she saying these things to hurt the father or would she actually hurt her own baby?” said Carbajal. “We don’t know yet. We’re hoping the baby is in good condition and will be returned safely.”
But McQueary says he believes Gabriel is still alive, considering he and Johnson were last seen at a park after McQueary received the threatening messages.
Elizabeth’s twin brother, Robert Johnson, said he doesn’t believe his sister’s story, but also said he has to support her.
“She’s stubborn and hard headed. If she doesn’t want Logan to have the baby, she will do everything she can to keep Gabriel from Logan.” ”
Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Gabriel Johnson is urged to contact the Tempe Police Department at 480-350-8311 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377).
Duration : 0:2:31
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April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
I’m not an FBI …
I’m not an FBI profile specialist, but I highly doubt someone who has been in foster care, and knows what abandonment is like first hand, would give her child to some strangers. If it was a “family”, chances are they wouldn’t take the baby without notifying authorities. And her brother knows her well enough to tell when she’s not being truthful, and that she’s not mentally unstable. Something clearly went wrong and she’s afraid of the consequences. Like I said, I’m not a CSI or FBI, just sayin.
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
uh Ted Bundy was …
uh Ted Bundy was good looking too but what he did turns my stomach!! it`s a complete turn off! and no way i would want to be with someone like that
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
OK Well go ahead …
OK Well go ahead but i just hope u and she don`t kill to many baby`s
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
@imaStonesGirl
I …
@imaStonesGirl
I was actually talking about the mother of the baby. Shes hot, she could run away with me
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
@rollitup1
Were …
@rollitup1
Were you talking about the mother of the baby or Tammy Smith? I thought you were saying the mom was not guilty!
sorry if i misunderstood
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Are you nuts? Yeah …
Are you nuts? Yeah she`s pretty but would u want her to be the mother of your child? Your sick!
My god how could u even be attracted to anyone that might have killed a little baby?
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
some new photos of …
some new photos of the baby found on her cell phone she had took while staying in the motel room! and i hate to say: it looks like she might have overdosed the baby on Tylenol or something, something happen to him cause from the looks of the new pics he looks sick weak and thin and he is also sucking on a Tylenol bottle(NOT GOOD) very sad! but i hope i`m wrong i hope he`s alive somewhere
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Weekend lockdown of …
Weekend lockdown of Eliz facility and holiday today is quashing news. Just read about T’s criminal history yesterday evening. No good info until an official statement comes out. Too many lies.
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
@phnixlady this was …
@phnixlady this was over a week ago..any new info in the last few days? we dont hear anything in Ohio…
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
every word we hear …
every word we hear from her gets changed. grrr
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
News today ! …
News today ! Tammi’s criminal history is coming out ! ahahahaha! I am laughing at her. She is a forger from the past, has battery, owes fines, and 5 or 6 last names. I hope she knows where Gabriel is.
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Shes innocent on …
Shes innocent on the count of being to hot!
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
So, since she …
So, since she couldn’t have her way, no one wins….sounds a little like another case with a child missing. She left Arizona with little money, in a gas eater car, drove to Texas, stayed in hotels, paid a sitter, hopped a bus to Miami. In Miami she had on her money and new clothes. Sounds like a baby for sale situation.
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Tammy Smith Filed …
Tammy Smith Filed court Papers saying that Gabriel was her cousins son not the son of Logan, She had Elizabeth sign them. So they could adopt in a underhanded way. If they had not done this none of this would have happened because dad would have had Gabriel
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Whenever trash …
Whenever trash breeds, there’s bound to be drama……drama, all day long.
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
@Rose, I pray that …
@Rose, I pray that they find baby Gabriel soon…
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
WTF? You have major …
WTF? You have major issues.
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
The mom is saying …
The mom is saying she met yet another couple in the park, gave the baby to this couple.
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
thanks for the …
thanks for the heads up-going to see if that nancy grace is youtubed..
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
wait, i saw the …
wait, i saw the interview w/the foster couple, she clearly said she met the birth mother at the airport..why are they now saying park??
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Wow, that is some …
Wow, that is some racist comment there, shall. Disgusting!
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
man she’s really …
man she’s really hot too. looks normal. none of this wouldve happened if her parent didnt give her up for adoption as a child, in and out of foster homes. her up psychologically. If you cant afford to have children either financially or mentally then DONT! I swear people should need a license to have kids. 70% of black people shouldnt be allowed to have kids. 70% of mexicans and the 25% of crazy white people shouldnt be allowed either. and no I dont fit into any 1 of those categories
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
By the couples …
By the couples reaction on the Nancy Grace show I think they know more about the whereabouts of the baby. I too pray the baby is returned safe.
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
@DotiBump Let pray …
@DotiBump Let pray that baby Gabriel is alive and that whomever has him will come forward…..this is such a twisted and sad case.
April 17th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
I do not like this …
I do not like this couple at all. I think they at least know where the baby is. Unless the baby is dead.