Police: Attempted baby-napping not motivated by money

Tanisha Weaver, 28, of 18 Shannon Road in Louisburg, is charged with abduction of children and is being held in the Durham County jail under a $100,000 bond.

Duke University Hospital officials said a woman tried to take a newborn from her mother's room on April 19. Hospital staff recognized that the woman wasn't authorized to take the child, called police and detained her until investigators arrived, officials said.

A Durham County prosecutor said in court last Wednesday that Weaver indicated to investigators that she tried to steal the newborn for money or to settle a debt.

Duke University Police Chief John Dailey said Monday that investigators no longer believe money was a motive in the case. He said declined to say what investigators believe prompted the abduction attempt.

Investigators also believe that Weaver had no accomplices, so no additional charges are expected in the case, Dailey said.

Authorities said Weaver also was planning to abduct an infant from Maria Parham Medical Center in Henderson.

A woman matching Weaver's description was acting suspiciously in the hospital on April 17, officials said. The woman, who was dressed in surgical scrubs, passed herself off as a nursing student and was asking questions about the maternity ward, they said.

The woman was seen leaving the hospital with two unidentified people.

Weaver also faces a charge of assault with a deadly weapon in Louisburg.

Police said she placed an online advertisement soliciting pregnant women for a calendar. When a woman tried to back out of participating in the calendar, Weaver pulled a knife on her, police said.

The first hearing on that case was reset Monday to July 27.