Missing Memphis Children Found In Miami, Mother Arrested, 1 Child Still Missing
BISCAYNE PARK (CBSMiami) -- A mother from Memphis is under arrest after being accused of kidnapping her three children and bringing them to South Florida.
Biscayne Park police arrested Sandra Bates, 45, on Wednesday.
After an appearance in bond court, she was held without bond for custodial interference. She also told Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer that she would not fight her extradition to Tennessee, meaning she could be brought back to that state within the next 15 days. Glazer told her that she could be held in jail for up to 90 days if she fought extradition to Tennessee. "I am going to waive it," said Bates.
According to police, officers responded to a 13-year-old girl found wandering the streets barefoot in Biscayne Park on August 25. After speaking with the Department of Children and Families, officers learned the girl, Sandra Bates, was reported kidnapped from Memphis, Tennessee.
The girl led detectives to a home at 1312 Northeast 150 Street where they located the mother. After searching the townhome, police also found 9-year-old Sara Jones hidden in a closet behind some doors. The girls are sisters.
A security guard who lives there told CBS4's Peter D'Oench "She was here visiting a friend from Tennessee. I was surprised to hear this."
A neighbor T.J. Collins said "When I heard this I was so surprised the whole idea of taking kids from a different state. This is shocking that this happened in this neighborhood and it makes me wonder why did she take the kids."
A third child, a 15-year-old boy, Servario Bates, was not found and is still missing. Biscayne Park Police and the State Attorney's Office are attempting to locate him.
Detective Rodney Schwartz said "He is a boy here all alone from Tennessee with no relatives in this area that we know if and no money. So we are very concerned at this moment."
He also said when the 13-year-old girl was found, "She was disoriented. Her hair was disheveled. Her clothes were a mess. She had a torn shirt. All she could remember was her name and date of birth. She did not know where she was."
Biscayne Park police officers said the siblings have been missing since September 2019.
The 13-year-old girl was taken to Jackson North Hospital after complaining she hurt her foot running away. The younger girl, Sara Jones, was taken into protective custody.
Initially, the Village of Biscayne Park Police Department said in a press release, they are concerned the three siblings could be possible victims of human trafficking in Miami-Dade County.
If you have seen Servario Bates or know where he is, you are asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.
