Girl returned to mother after frantic search

A Carson City baby was reunited with her family nearly four hours after the girl was reported kidnapped by a family friend.

An unidentified woman delivered Isabell Marie Brown, 11 months old, to her paternal aunt Rosa Ledezma, 27, in the parking lot of Quik-Stop Mini Mart at Hot Springs Road and Roop Street about 2:30 p.m.

Ledezma said she arranged to pick up the girl after talking by cell phone at least twice with the child's alleged abductor, Alejandro Lozano-Lozano, 35.

According to police, Lozano-Lozano and Isabell's mother, Kimberly Maddox, argued in his vehicle in the parking lot of Jimboy's Tacos on Highway 50 East about 11:15 a.m.

When Maddox refused to get back into his Ford Bronco after Lozano-Lozano allegedly smacked her in the mouth, he drove off with her daughter inside.

Carson City Sheriff's Detective Cate Summers said the couple's relationship is unclear. Lozano-Lozano is not the father of Isabell.

Police immediately issued an Amber Alert for the girl and deputies throughout the department began a frantic search for her.

Ledezma said Lozano-Lozano called her mother and said he wanted to return the child but was afraid of police. Sometime later, he called to tell Ledezma to meet him at the Quik-Stop, she said.

The aunt said she walked to the location and was approached by a woman in a truck who turned Isabell over to her. Police were unable to locate Lozano-Lozano.

Moments later, Deputy Bill Richards spotted Ledezma walking along Hot Springs Road carrying Isabell.

With rain beginning to fall and thunder rumbling, the two were ushered into a car and taken to the Sheriff's Department, where the baby was reunited with her mother.

"I don't think she's any worse for wear," said Detective Summers as Isabell smiled a wide grin and tried to eat a Channel 2 microphone that a reporter from the Reno news station held before her. "She's a happy baby."

Maddox called the situation a misunderstanding, and said she didn't want to see Lozano-Lozano prosecuted.

"I wouldn't want to be prosecuted if I was in that situation," she said.

However, Summers said it's not up to Maddox whether he is charged with domestic battery. The case will be forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for a warrant on the domestic battery and a review on possible kidnapping charges, she said.

Lozano-Lozano was paroled from prison in 2003 on a charge of possession of a controlled substance for which he served 10 months. His probation ended in March.

Contact F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.