Arizona woman indicted for allegedly kidnapping 3-year-old from family home

A 23-year-old woman has been indicted on felony charges after allegedly abducting a 3-year-old girl from her Arizona home.

Marina Noriega was charged by a Maricopa County grand jury with custodial interference and second-degree burglary in connection with the kidnapping of Kehlani Rogers. 

Prosecutors said the custodial interference charge stems from Noriega’s alleged attempt to keep the child away from her parents, while the burglary count relates to her presence in the family’s home without permission. Noriega is being held on a $250,000 cash bond.

Kehlani was reported missing from her Avondale, Arizona, residence on February 20 after her parents let a woman into their home, believing she needed a place to stay. 

The following morning, Noriega and the child were gone, prompting a search that included tips from the public and surveillance footage from a local business in Maricopa, where Noriega was spotted with the child.

Authorities located Noriega and Kehlani at a Phoenix gas station on February 22, and the child was returned safely to her family. 

According to court documents, Noriega initially claimed to police that Kehlani was her daughter and that she had come to Arizona searching for family, before admitting she was mistaken.

“I shouldn’t have taken advantage of the situation and done what I did. You’re right, that’s my fault,” Noriega reportedly told authorities.

Noriega is scheduled to be arraigned on March 11, with a tentative trial date set for July 8.