Woman Arrested in Baby Gabriel Case

An Arizona woman once named a person of interest in the case of a missing 8-month-old boy has been arrested on charges of custodial interference and forgery. Tammi Smith was placed in the Maricopa County Jail in connection with the Baby Gabriel investigation.

Smith is in the same jail as the baby's mother, Elizabeth Johnson.

Tammi Smith and her husband, who tried to adopt Gabriel Johnson from Elizabeth after Tammi met her in an airport, were named as persons of interest early in the case. Tammi Smith was arrested Tuesday on charges of conspiracy to commit custodial interference, custodial interference and forgery - all felony charges.

"We all knew this was going to happen. I am innocent and God is with me," Smith told reporters as she was being taken to jail.

Locked in a custodial dispute with Gabriel's father, Logan McQueary, Elizabeth Johnson left Arizona with the infant in December and fled to San Antonio. When Elizabeth was arrested in Miami on Dec. 29, Gabriel was not with her.

Tammi and Jack Smith were discussing adopting Gabriel during December and actually had custody of the boy for eight days. Elizabeth took the baby back because she said she had to appear at a court custody hearing. That's when she apparently fled to San Antonio.

Where Is Baby Gabriel?

McQueary, the boy's father, is considered by police to be a victim in the case. At one point, Elizabeth sent him a text message saying she had killed Gabriel, put his body in a diaper bag and put him in a trash bin. She later denied killing Gabriel.

Investigators thought that she may have given the baby to a couple in San Antonio, but Gabriel has not been seen and no one has come forward with any information.

"It is a very real possibility that Elizabeth killed Gabriel," said Tempe Lt. Mike Horn said. "We are holding out hope that he's alive, but we have to look at every aspect and investigate everything."

See Also:
Tempe Police Make Arrest in Missing Baby Gabriel Case

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^{Photos: Mug Shot}