Raleigh 911 operator praised for calming distraught mother of kidnapped baby

A Raleigh 911 operator is being recognized for calming a distraught mother whose seven-week-old baby was abducted during a carjacking.

Dispatcher Samantha Melynk, who works at Raleigh Emergency Communication Center, recalls responding to the nightmare scenario of the mother's car stolen with her baby inside.

"The true raw pain she was experiencing at that moment, the screaming and crying, I felt it," said Melynk. "I felt it with her."

Officers responded to a gas station in the 2800 block of Capital Blvd. around 10:15 p.m. Thursday as someone reported a stolen vehicle with a child inside.

The baby's mother told Melynk that she left the baby in the car to run inside an Exxon gas station when someone jumped in the driver's seat and took off. The heart-stopping recording reveals a real-life nightmare scenario for the mother and Melynk.

"Somebody just stole my car out of this parking lot, and they got my baby in it," the mother said. "They got my baby in the car."

"Please hurry up! My baby is inside that car," the mother continued.

"Ma'am, listen to me. I know you are scared," Melynk responded. "Okay. Your baby is in that car. I am a mom, too. I get it, but I need to know what kind of car you have and what direction they went so we can find them, okay?"

Melynk says that being a 911 dispatcher is a calling, and it's a matter of getting accurate info while offering reassurance.

"Helping people in their darkest time, being the first person they hear when that phone is ringing, you have to have a nice calm voice," said Melynk.

She also says that while emotions run high, her training helped her remain cool while showing empathy.

"I wanted her to know the other person on the phone was not an automated system that had no emotion, no feeling," said Melynk.

One hour later, the car was found by law enforcement abandoned with the baby inside and unharmed at a Marathon gas station on East Millbrook Road.

Police are still looking for a suspect.

Investigators talked with a store clerk and are working to review security footage from the gas station where the baby was found.

An investigation is ongoing as police try to find the person who stole the car from the parking lot. Police say the mother is not facing charges at this time.

Anyone who believes they may have information to help the investigation is asked to visit Crime Stoppers for anonymous reporting options or call 919-996-1193.