Woman Arrested For Posing As Photographer To Drug Mother, Steal Newborn

A woman in Washington was arrested Friday on suspicion of drugging a mother and attempting to steal her baby after posing as an amateur photographer. She was unsuccessful in her endeavor.

Juliette Parker, 38, with her unidentified daughter, 16, had allegedly issued a Facebook ad in which they offered to photograph newborns for free so as to build their portfolio. The duo was arrested at their residence in Spanaway, according to Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.

The investigation began on Feb. 5 when the unidentified mother called 911 claiming that she had been drugged. She sought medical attention when “she suddenly began feeling numbness, drowsiness, instability on her feet and was vomiting,” according to the report.

After being treated at a hospital, she contacted the Sheriff’s department to lodge a complaint. She claimed that Parker and her daughter gave her a cupcake to eat after she hired them to photograph the newborn. She said she encountered discomfort after consuming it.

The victim asked the duo to leave her home only to notice later that they had stolen her house keys.

Parker visited the victim’s house two times earlier on the pretext of the newborn’s photography. The victim noticed her behaving rather strangely then.

“The suspect was observed taking cell phone selfies with the victim’s baby and was seen wiping her fingerprints off items she touched inside the victim’s home,” the report stated.

Police said they garnered evidence which implied that the suspect was planning to steal the baby to bring up as her own. Parker previously targeted other women with newborns also in an effort to steal the tots. She has posted several such hoax advertisements under the names of "Juliette Parker," "Juliette Noel" and "Juliette Gaines," police said.

The suspects were facing multiple felony charges.

Deputies reportedly installed new locks and window guards in the victim’s home and placed a patrol car outside during the course of the investigation. Police didn’t reveal what the substance was in the cupcake.

Juliette Parker had a failed bid at the run for mayor in Colorado Springs last year, the Gazette of Colorado Springs reported.