Instagram Personality Charged After Lying About Latino Couple Trying To Kidnap Her Kids

An Instagram personality who claimed she stopped a Latino couple from kidnapping her children in Petaluma, California, in December 2020 is facing criminal charges after authorities found no evidence that the crime ever happened.

Katie Sorensen was charged with two misdemeanors Thursday, including providing false information to police and giving false information to a police dispatcher, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office announced in a statement.

The accused couple, Sadie and Eddie Martinez, expressed their relief over the news Thursday afternoon, local newspaper Argus-Courier reported.

"We’re very happy with the news," Sadie said. "It’s a nice step toward justice. It gives you hope."

Sorensen, who ran a now-inaccessible Instagram account called @motherhoodessentials, accused the couple of attempting to kidnap her two children on Dec. 7 in the parking lot of a Michael's store on North McDowell Boulevard.

According to a statement from the Petaluma Police Department, Sorensen said the couple "made comments concerning the children’s appearance as they walked behind her... followed her out to her car, loitered suspiciously, and then left when noticed by another individual nearby." Police determined that no crime took place after investigating the allegations.

Following the incident, Sorensen posted videos on her Instagram account on Dec. 13 that recounted the alleged kidnapping.

In an interview with KTVU, Sorensen accused Eddie of grabbing her stroller that contained her kids.

"I saw these people, they didn't look necessarily clean-cut," she told the station. "I felt uncomfortable around them, and instead of making them uncomfortable with my discomfort, I chose to remain in my discomfort."

Upon learning of the newly disclosed information, police said it conducted further investigation into the incident.

"This new information, if true, could constitute an attempted child abduction, so accordingly, the Petaluma Police Department began an investigation into the matter due to its potentially serious nature and concern for community safety," police said in the statement.

A review of the store's security camera footage showed Sadie and Eddie did shop at the Michael's branch during the reported time of the incident, but they denied Sorensen's allegations.

Police also found no evidence to support Sorensen's claims. "To date, the investigation has produced no evidence or witnesses corroborating the account provided by the reporting party," police pointed out.

According to the police statement, the investigation was now considered close.

Sadie told CBS News Monday that the allegations were "funny" because she and Eddie had five children of their own.

"The thought of being accused of something so ridiculous was comical," she said.

The district attorney's office said Sorensen is scheduled to appear in court on May 13, as per CBS.