Abducted Baby Henry Found; Mom Arrested In Sierra County: Sonoma Co. Sheriff

SONOMA COUNTY, CA – UPDATE: WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26, 5:30 a.m.

A Monte Rio woman suspected of kidnapping her 7-month old son from his grandmother's Guerneville home Sunday is in the Sierra County Jail and her son is in protective custody Tuesday afternoon, a Sonoma County sheriff's sergeant said.

Hannah Ruth Ashley, 35, was arrested by a California Highway Patrol officer around 3 p.m. in Downieville after a grocery store clerk recognized her and called the CHP, sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Crum said.

Ashley was carrying the baby in a duffle bag, and she was taken into custody after a brief struggle, Crum said. She is being held under a $140,000 warrant for kidnapping, child stealing and burglary, Crum said.

Seven-month-old Henry Massey was evaluated at a hospital, Crum said.

A passerby recognized Ashley's silver 2005 Subaru Forester Monday night and called the CHP, Crum said. The CHP, based in Grass Valley, responded and the officer turned his patrol car around but Ashley was gone,
Crum said.

She parked her car on a dead end street before going into the grocery store, Crum said.

The incident began when the boy's grandmother told the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office around 8:30 a.m. Sunday that she suspected Ashley took the boy from his crib. She said Ashley made threats during her
visitations to take the child back.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office issued a "be on the lookout" and gave a description of Ashley, the boy and Ashley's vehicle on Sunday.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office then said Sonoma County Child Protective Services was concerned Ashley was incapable of adequately caring for the boy because of her past mental health issues and criminal activity, Crum said. The CHP then issued an Amber Alert Monday afternoon.

Ashley was convicted in Sonoma County Superior Court of misdemeanor charges of DUI and drug possession, according to court records.

A Sierra County Sheriff's Officer said Ashley and the boy were found and in good health but he would not release any other details.

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TUESDAY, OCT. 25, 4 p.m.

Missing baby Henry and his mother, suspected of abducting him Sunday from his crib at his custodial grandmother's home in Guerneville, were found this afternoon in a town in Sierra County, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

The 7-month old child was found safe and taken into protective custody at about 3:10 p.m. in the area of Downieville, deputies said.

Under arrest is his 35-year-old mother, Hannah Ruth Ashley, the woman named immediately by her own mother as a suspect in the alleged parental abduction case, deputies said.

An Amber Alert was issued Monday by the California Highway Patrol for Henry Massey, reportedly snatched from his crib at his grandmother's house. The grandmother, the child's legal custodian, called authorities Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. reporting the baby was missing from his bed and that she believed her daughter, Ashley, was involved, deputies said.

Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Crum said earlier today that detectives were following up on a tip from a citizen that placed the mother and baby in Sierra County, which borders Nevada. The tip came in Monday at about 7:30 p.m. and was considered credible, he said.

Sheriff's officials said on Monday, in a "be on the lookout" alert, that the boy was not believed to be in danger, and there was never a threat of violence toward the infant.

"There has never been a threat of violence towards the child, and the child is not believed to be in danger, however the grandmother has legal custody," the agency said. "During recent child visitations, it was reported that Ashley made threats to take her child back."

Little Henry legally was transferred by Child Protective Services to his grandmother's care as Ashley has a purported history of drug and substance abuse and mental health issues, said Crum, although he could not provide details if the custodial transfer was at the boy's birth or after a reported incident.

Details of today's arrest are not yet available, and Patch will update when more information is released.

Previous coverage:

• Possible Sighting Of Abducted Infant, Missing Mom Reported In Sierra County: Sheriff's Office
• Amber Alert Now Issued For Baby Snatched From Crib In Guerneville
• Child Missing From Crib In Guerneville; Officials Seeking Mother In Possible Abduction

--Bay City News contributed to this report/Images via Sonoma County Sheriff, Missing Persons Of America