Michigan woman allegedly kidnaps 4 kids who were walking to school

DETROIT (TCD) -- A 37-year-old woman was arrested last week for reportedly kidnapping four children ages 5 to 11 years old as they walked to school.

According to a press conference held by Detroit Police Chief James E. White, on Tuesday, Nov. 30, the suspect was pulled over for running a red light around 7:30 a.m. in the area of Grand River and Evergreen avenues. When officers approached the side of the suspect’s van, they reportedly saw an 11-year-old boy, an 8-year-old girl, a 7-year-old girl, and a 5-year-old boy in the back seat.

Police Chief James E. White said, "The body language of the children was off."

After a thorough investigation, police said the 37-year-old driver, later identified as Stephanie Marie Binder, was "found to be in possession of the children illegally."

According to WDIV-TV, Binder stole the van when she kidnapped the children.

A prosecutor told WDIV, "The youngest child got into the van, at which time the oldest child, who is 11, tried to grab his brother back, but Ms. Binder got out of the car and pushed them toward her van, telling them to get in."

Binder reportedly admitted that she didn’t know the children and wasn’t supposed to pick them up.

Binder faces four counts of kidnapping — child enticement, four counts of unlawful imprisonment, one count of unlawfully driving away of an automobile, and one count of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle.

According to jail records, Binder remains held in the Andrew C. Baird Detention Facility on $5 million bond. She is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 14.

WDIV reports that Binder has a criminal past, including retail frauds, multiple failure to appear warrants, a drug conviction. In April, she was reportedly discharged from parole after leaving the scene of deadly crash that she caused.

MORE: