GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A competency exam has been ordered for the babysitter who prompted an Amber Alert after she took a Grand Rapids baby.
Iyesha Gibbs, 19, is facing a charge of kidnapping involving child enticement after she took 1-year-old Miquis Jenkins for over 24 hours.
The baby’s mother, Laquaya Gillard, started messaging and calling Gibbs on Facebook around 5 p.m. on Aug. 1. Gillard said she could see Gibbs was seeing the messages, but wasn’t responding She also said Gibbs blocked her on Facebook just before 11 p.m.
Officers found the child unharmed shortly before 3 p.m. on Aug. 2 at Gibbs’ Benton Harbor apartment after neighbors saw her drop him off. Gibbs was later found in the Benton Harbor area and taken into custody.
Gibbs’ mother, Latonya Gibbs, was at the hearing Tuesday and said the ordeal was a misunderstanding.
“Iyesha used to watch that baby and everything else, and (they’re) acting like she just took the baby and she didn’t kidnap the baby, the baby was given to her,” she said.
The case will be delayed until the competency exam is completed. If convicted on the kidnapping charge, Iyesha Gibbs faces up to life in prison.