Hero Mom Claws Kidnapper, Rescues Her 2-Year-Old Son

KIRKLAND, WA - A 38-year-old Kirkland mom was sitting in her car at Bridle Trails State Park last Thursdaybreastfeeding her infant when she saw a strange woman coming up a trail holding her 2-year-old son.

As most mothers would, the Kirkland mom ran to get her son back.

Recently released court documents detail the frightening attempted kidnapping and attack that happened at one of the region's busiest state parks last week. Ashley Crane, 33, of Redmond, is now facing charges of kidnapping and assault in connection to the incident.

According to court records:

The 38-year-old mother went to the 116th Avenue entrance of Bridle Trails at around noon last Thursday with her infant and 2-year-old. The woman's 67-year-old mother was there as well. The mother stayed back to feed the infant in the car while the grandmother took the 2-year-old into the park.

While the grandmother and toddler were standing near the equestrian show area, someone hit the grandmother in the face. The next thing the grandmother saw, according to a police report, was a strange woman running off with the 2-year-old.

Back in the parking lot, the 38-year-old mother watched as the woman walked up a trail holding her son. She got out of the car to confront the would-be kidnapper. The two women struggled, and the mother clawed at the kidnapper's face, according to a police report.

The mother was eventually able to pry her son away, and she and the grandmother made it back to the car to call police. The grandmother suffered a cut to her lip and told police she thought she had been "kicked by a horse."

Crane is being held at the King County Jail on $100,000 bail, according to records.

Image via Washington State Parks