On February 20, 2024, a quiet morning in Federal Way, Washington, turned into a nightmare for one family.
A Florida couple, pretending to be Amazon delivery drivers, allegedly kidnapped a 7-month-old baby.
The details of this criminal investigation are both scary, sad, and shocking.
Let's get into the details
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| The couple after their arrest |
The Plan: A Fake Delivery and a Violent Attack
The couple behind this crime is Marlly Jarina Ardila-Urrego, 33, and her husband Chun Ho Vincent Lai, 42.
They reportedly drove over 45 hours from their home in Lake Worth Beach, Florida, to Washington with the sole aim of kidnapping a baby.
Suprisingly, the baby that was taken belonged to Ardila-Urrego’s cousin.
According to police reports, the couple planned everything carefully.
Ardila-Urrego told the baby’s mother that she had bought a bed frame for her other child who is 2-year-old.
She claimed that it would be delivered to the victim on February 20, 2024.
Unknown to the mother, this was all part of their plan to steal her baby.
So, on that fateful day, the mother heard a knock on the door.
When she looked through the peephole, she saw a man, who was later identified as Lai, holding an Amazon box and clipboard.
Thinking it was a delivery for the bed frame, she opened the door.
Instead of giving her the package, Lai attacked her.
He punched her multiple times, tied her hands and feet with zip ties, and pushed her into a bedroom with her toddler.
Meanwhile, Ardila-Urrego came in, took the baby and put her in the Amazon box.
After kidnapping the baby, the couple left the apartment in their car.
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| Ardila-Urrego with detectives after her arrest (souurce) |
The Aftermath: A Quick Search and a Happy Rescue
After the attackers left, the mother managed to free herself and realized her baby was gone.
She ran outside with her toddler, where a neighbor and maintenance workers helped her and called 911.
The local police department quickly started an investigation of the crime scene, looking for clues.
When officers checked security footage from a neighbor's flat, it showed the couple arriving and leaving with the baby.
Thanks to the hard work of investigators and the FBI, police tracked Ardila-Urrego’s cell phone and Lai’s car, a Honda Insight.
Within 3.5 hours of the kidnapping, a state trooper stopped the couple on Interstate 90 near Moses Lake, Washington.
The baby was found safe in the car and was quickly returned to her parents.
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| Chun Ho Vincent Lai after his arrest |
The Motive: Still a Mystery
One of the biggest questions in this case is: why?
According to the criminal complaint, there’s no clear reason why Ardila-Urrego and Lai targeted this family.
Prosecutors said the family was likely chosen because they knew the defendants had young children.
There’s also no sign that mental illness or drugs played a part in the crime.
Senior Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Phillips called the case “extraordinarily unusual” and pointed out the high level of planning involved.
The couple now faces serious charges, including first-degree kidnapping, robbery, burglary, and second-degree assault.
If found guilty, they could face stricter sentences because the victims were children and the crime was premeditated
Ardila-Urrego and Lai are being held on $750,000 bail each.
They will appear in court in March 2025 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, Washington.
This shocking crime has left the Federal Way community feeling uneasy, but it also shows how important it is to stay alert
The teamwork between the local police department, FBI, and state troopers were key to bringing the baby home safely.
While the baby was safely returned, the family will need time to heal from this trauma.
As the legal process continues, many questions remain.
Got a tip about a crime? Please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS immediately.
You can also see how to report a crime anonymously online if you wish to remain anonymous.
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