ST. BERNARD PARISH, La. — As of Thursday night, law enforcement officials were still looking for a toddler who they say was stolen out of Children's Hospital New Orleans last week. Authorities said the parents, who they believe now have the baby, are still at large.
The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office said they are looking for 37-year-old Arianne Stechmann and 31-year-old Johnathan Kritzman, who they said took the 2-year-old out of Children’s Hospital where he was being treated for a suspected cocaine overdose.
For his treatment the baby was intubated at Children's Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
An emergency order granted custody to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, yet somehow the child still disappeared.
In a statement DCFS said they had a verbal order to gain custody of the child. Saying in part, “When the worker entered the child’s hospital room to execute the custody order with the nurse, they discovered the parents and the child were gone.”
The agency said they were working with law enforcement at local, state and federal level to find the family. DCFS said, “The child has not been recovered, and we are concerned about the child’s safety.”
The New Orleans Children’s Hospital wouldn’t say a lot, citing confidentiality, saying in part, “It is a difficult and complex system, and we are committed to working together with law enforcement to ensure the safest and best possible care for all patients under our care.”
CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocates - is an organization that advocates for children in foster care. Ramona Graham who's an advocate with the agency said its crucial children in the system have someone looking out for them.
“If an advocate is not there, you may possibly have a child who may linger in foster care longer than what they need to,” Graham said.
She went on to say advocates speak on behalf of the child, “We are the ears and eyes of the court, we go out and see children in their environment. We make sure their home environments are safe, we make sure their needs are being met and being provided to them on a timely basis.”
If you know the whereabouts of Stechmann, Kritzman or the 2-year-old, you’re urged to call the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office.