A Tacoma woman posing as a baby photographer has been charged with assault and attempted kidnapping after law enforcement authorities began investigating a claim that she had drugged a new mother in her own home.

According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, Juliette Parker and her 16-year-old daughter went to the alleged victim's home under the pretense of taking pictures of her newborn, but while they were there they fed her laced cupcakes and then took her house keys, possibly with the intent of returning later to kidnap the victim's baby.

Investigation Began After 911 Call

In early February, a woman called 911 to claim she thought she had been drugged by Parker and her daughter. The victim had met Parker through a Facebook newborn baby group because Parker had posted that she would take pictures of newborns for free as a way to build up her professional photography portfolio. Authorities have since found multiple mothers of newborns from the Facebook group who say Parker also came to their homes, but none of them were drugged.

The victim and Parker had met two previous times, but during the third meeting, Parker brought her daughter and the daughter pressured the victim to eat some cupcakes they had brought. Immediately after eating a cupcake, the victim began feeling disoriented and sick, so she asked the two to leave. The victim told authorities that before the pair left, she saw Parker wiping down their drinking glasses. She then noticed her house keys were missing.

Kidnapping Plot May Have Been Months in the Making

According to investigators, who have uncovered social media posts as well as text messages between Parker and an ex-boyfriend, this alleged kidnapping scheme may have started months ago in November 2019. In the text messages, Parker and her boyfriend discussed kidnapping a baby to raise as their own in another state. The boyfriend even offered to get GHB, also known as the “date rape” drug, for Parker.

Parker began advertising in Facebook groups for soon-to-be mothers and mothers of newborns that she would not only take professional photos of their babies but help them manage a social media presence—all for free because she was looking to build up her portfolio. She visited multiple women's homes on several different occasions, but the victim in this case seems to be the mother Parker intended to kidnap her baby from.

Kidnapping Charges

Parker has been charged with second-degree assault and attempted second-degree kidnapping. Under Washington's RCW 9A.40.030 statute, second-degree kidnapping is defined as, “The actor's sole intent is to assume custody of that person (ie. a child).” Parker's daughter has been charged with the same charges but was arraigned in a juvenile detention center.

A second-degree kidnapping charge is very serious and has serious consequences, including up to ten years in prison and a $20,000 fine. If you are facing serious criminal charges in Washington, you need a serious criminal defense attorney who will fight to have the charges either lessened or dropped altogether. Contact the Law Offices of Steve Karimi today to learn how he can help you.