Bethesda Woman Charged With Abducting 4-Year-Old In Downtown Area

BETHESDA, MD — A 39-year-old woman is behind bars after police said she assaulted an elderly man and abducted his granddaughter in Bethesda Monday evening.

Montgomery County police have charged Yashica Terry, of Bethesda, with crimes to include child abduction, kidnapping, and first-degree assault.

The kidnapping and assault took place shortly after 6:45 p.m. on Monday in the heart of downtown Bethesda. Authorities determined that the grandfather was holding hands with his granddaughter while walking on Woodmont Avenue, near Norfolk Avenue, when Terry violently shoved him from behind — causing him to fall to the ground.

Terry then grabbed the grandchild, 4, and pulled her into a nearby store, police said.

The 76-year-old grandfather, who police said was seriously injured from the fall, called 911.

Officers arrived on the scene and found Terry, who was reportedly keeping the child behind clothing racks. Employees told police that the woman had been yelling at personnel and threatening to harm them.

Police safely removed the child from the store and took Terry into custody. According to police, Terry told officers that she "felt the vibe between the male and child was off."

Terry is being held without bond.

The grandfather was taken to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The child was unharmed and reunited with her parents.