Woman Begs For 'Mercy' For Kidnapper Who Stole Her As Newborn And Raised Her As Her Own
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A woman who was kidnapped from a hospital after she was born has asked the court to have 'mercy' on the person who stole her.
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In 1998, Gloria Williams kidnapped newborn Kamiyah Mobley from a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida - just hours after her 16-year-old birth mother Shanara Mobley have given birth. Gloria then took the baby home to raise as her own, renaming Kamiyah as Alexis Kelli Manigo.
It wasn't until 2017 that the crime was discovered, and Williams pleaded guilty to kidnapping and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
However, Mobley - who has since reunited with her biological parents - has now pleaded with the court to release her kidnapper early, saying that she still considers Williams her 'mom', as she had raised her.
In a letter - which was included in Williams' motion to a judge to consider shortening her sentence in December, and was obtained by Actions News Jax - Mobley said: "I am writing this letter in support of my mother, Gloria Williams. I would like to make it clear that she is my mother. She raised me, and not only provided for my needs, but she loved me unconditionally.
"I had a well-rounded life; and I am an independent, college educated, and deeply spiritual person, because of all my mom gave me. I am fully aware of how our lives came to be, what they are, and how my mom came to be my mom.
"I have met my birth parents, and I am grateful to have me my birth parents, and I am grateful to have a 2nd family in my life - especially to have siblings.
"I understand that none of this modifies the truth of the past, nor does it justify my mom's actions in any way.
"However, at the end of the day, I love my mother and I wholeheartedly support her! I ask for the court's grace and mercy, as I need my mother home."
Authorities said Williams had pretended to be a nurse when she snatched Mobley from the University Medical Center - now UF Health Jacksonville - and raised her as her own daughter in South Carolina.
Nearly two decades later, tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led officials to Walterboro, finding a young woman with the same date of birth as Mobley, but with a different name and documents. After collecting DNA, they discovered that the results came back as a match for Mobley.
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