Couple charged in alleged baby kidnapping

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July 9, 2010

By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG Staff Writer The Press Republican Fri Jul 09, 2010, 02:51 PM EDT

JAY — Police have charged a local couple for allegedly taking their baby from foster care during a late-night home invasion last week.

Naomi T. Drake became the focus of a nationwide Amber Alert Saturday after her birth parents allegedly stormed into the 5-month-old's foster-care home on Hazen Road Friday night, assaulted her guardian and then fled with the baby.

The baby was found safe with the couple in Tennessee Sunday afternoon, Ray Brook-based State Police have said.

Her parents — James L. Drake, 24, of Morrisonville and Maria Trombley, 22, of Plattsburgh — were taken into custody without incident and were held in Haywood County Jail pending extradition, which they later waived.

This week, local authorities went to Tennessee and brought the couple back to Essex County, where they were arrested on related charges when they landed at Lake Clear Airport Thursday afternoon.

Both are now facing a felony charge of second-degree burglary and a misdemeanor count of custodial inference.

Naomi has been returned to the custody of the Department of Social Services for transfer to her lawful guardian.

Bureau of Criminal Investigation Capt. Robert LaFountain said the charges were "deemed appropriate" as part of the initial investigation and that the case is currently being reviewed by police and Essex County District Attorney Kristy Sprague.

He said additional charges are possible.

Authorities believe that Drake and Trombley, who is pregnant, were impaired by drugs or alcohol when they went they reportedly took their baby.

Both remain in custody at Essex County Jail.

E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at: avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com