Who is Marina Noriega, the Woman Arizona Movers Stopped While Allegedly Abducting a Three-Year-Old Child

Marina Noriega is a 23-year-old woman from California who had only recently met the toddler's family. What began as a short interaction quickly turned into a frightening situation when she was accused of kidnapping their child.

Noriega was found and taken into custody at a gas station in the Phoenix area, with the help of Arizona-trained Truckers Against Trafficking.

According to the Avondale Police Department, she was later identified her through facial recognition and a photo lineup.

How Marina Noriega Managed to Kidnap the Child

Noriega reportedly told the family she had been dropped off in Arizona from California and had nowhere to stay, with no family to turn to, as her boyfriend and father were both in prison.

It was indicated in a newly released court document the parents recalled Noriega making short remarks about having a 'baby daddy' and a 'dead baby,' though they assumed she was just keeping the personal details of it to 'protect herself from strangers'. The family allowed her to stay overnight and offered her a spare room.

According to the toddler's parents, Noriega had shared only her first name with the family. She was on the couch watching TV when they went to bed. Before sunrise, they were awakened by one of their other children crying and soon realised both Noriega and the toddler were gone.

What Led to the Kidnapping

Marina was under the influence of meth which causes memory problems that might have led her to the illusion of having a three-year-old child. This perspective could be a potential lead to the incident.

After being blocked by the truckers who rescued the three-year-old toddler, Noriega was taken into custody, and allegedly told police she had no car, money, job, or place to stay. She also reportedly said she had spent the night on the street with the child and had no intention of taking a train.

According to court documents cited by AZ FAMILY, Noriega admitted that the child was not her daughter and acknowledged that she had made a mistake. She reportedly said that if she could speak to the family, she would 'apologize for taking their daughter'.

'I shouldn't have took [sic] advantage of the situation and done what I did. You're right, that's my fault,' Noriega told authorities, according to the paperwork.

Noriega as 'A Danger to the Community'

Noriega was booked on one count of custodial interference, a Class 3 felony. During her initial court hearing, Stephen Garcia of the Maricopa County Attorney's Office said she was found in possession of a glass pipe and admitted to using methamphetamine the day before, while the child was in her care. Garcia described Noriega as 'a danger to the community and a flight risk'.

The police said she denied any plans to take a train back to California or to sell or harm the child.

The Arizona truckers quoted as fathers themselves, 'Me personally, I don't know how anybody could cope with their kid being abducted. It's just, it sounds insane.'

One man added, 'The only thing that's important is that little girl's home and she didn't get hurt'.