Cortez L. Rose, AMBER Alert, June 7, 2009 IL.

Madison mom frantic about missing baby

By Carolyn Tuft and Nicholas J. C. Pistor
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
06/08/2009
UPDATED: 11:50 A.M.


MADISON -- The mother of a missing baby said that the teen who took her child "wanted a baby real bad.""She was going around saying she was pregnant, but she's not," said Makeela King, 16.But, King said that she trusted the woman who took the baby."I didn't think she'd do nothing like this," said King.


Police in Illinois are asking for the public's help in tracking down the teen -- Danielle Medina, 17 -- who is believed to have taken King's baby -- Cortez L. Rose.

Madison Police Chief Steven Shelby said Medina is a “transient,” and came to the Metro East from the New York City area.“It’s possible she may be on the run from maybe some charges up in New York City,” said Shelby.


Police said Medina was left to babysit the boy in the 1500 block of 5th Street in Madison. They say Medina then left the house with the baby without his parents' permission. Baby Cortez lives at the home.

Now, police believe the child could be in danger.




Cortez L. Rose, missing


The mother went shopping in East St. Louis, according to police. Medina, the babysitter, was also living at the home, police said.




Danielle Medina


Cortez is an African-American baby boy who weighs about 20 pounds. He has birthmarks on his right arm near his shoulder and one on his right ankle. He was last seen wearing a red t-shirt.


Medina is described as an African-American who is about 5-foot tall, weighing about 120 pounds. She was last seen wearing an orange-and-black weave, black leggings and a long brown t-shirt.


Medina was carrying a large gray purse and pushing Cortez in a brown and tan stroller.Shelby said he knows of no quarrel between Medina and the boy’s parents.“It’s just kind of strange she hasn’t made contact with anybody.


She knows the number she has been staying at the house for maybe two or three months now,” Shelby said. Shelby said there was a delay in asking the public’s help because the family waited until Sunday to report the incident -- and he thought Medina might return.


“I thought there might be some confusion,” Shelby said. Medina doesn’t have a cell phone, according to police.

Anyone with information about Cortez' whereabouts should call the police at 618-876-4300.

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