More than a month after a woman abducted a 7-week-old baby from the King of Prussia Mall, the woman accused in the kidnapping is due in court Thursday.
Cherie Amoore, 32, faces kidnapping, false imprisonment, reckless endangerment and child endangerment charges in the March 31 abduction of Malika Hunter's son Ahsir.
She posted bail last month. No word yet if Thursday afternoon's hearing could be continued like a previously scheduled hearing last month.
Hunter told NBC10 the ordeal began when she took her children, including 7-week-old Ahsir, to the King of Prussia Mall. She says she met 32-year-old Cherie Amoore at a jewelry store and the two quickly bonded.
"She was so polite," Hunter said. "Nice, calm and energetic. Like the normal, average person."
Hunter says Amoore asked her about Ahsir and the two bonded over being mothers.
"She was just stressed and she just had a new baby and the father is in the military so that puts all the work on her," Hunter said. "It was relatable. She ain't been out in a while."
The two continued talking as they headed to the food court. During their conversation, Amoore asked Hunter if she could hold Ahsir. While police initially said Hunter let Amoore hold him, they later said Hunter told her "no" and never handed him to her. Hunter told NBC10 she began tending to her 2-year-old son who was growing irritable. That's when Amoore took Ahsir from his stroller and walked away, according to police.
"When I realized it was really happening it was like my heart could just bust open at any moment," Hunter said. "At any moment I could just hit that floor. It was the worst feeling I ever felt in my life."
Surveillance video shows Amoore with Ahsir in her arms leaving the mall around 5:30 p.m., according to investigators.
Hunter alerted police and an extensive search -- including an Amber Alert -- began that ended about five hours later after the boy was found safe. Police said they found Amoore and the baby inside a home on the 900 block of Upper Gulph Road in Tredyffrin Township. Friends say the man who lives at the home had a relationship with Amoore. While the man declined to comment, his mother spoke to NBC10, telling us her son had no idea about the kidnapping.
"All he knew is when he got home from work," said Gladys Biggers. "She was there too."
The baby's family dealt with a roller coaster of emotions throughout the ordeal.
"I was like hysterical I was going through it," said Burdette Lewis, the boy's grandfather. "We all prayed in there together."
Their prayers were answered as they had him back in their arms at the Upper Merion Police headquarters late Thursday night.
"I'm glad he's in my arms at this moment," said Malika Hunter. "I didn't know what the outcome of this situation would be."
Amoore is the daughter of Republican Party of Pennsylvania Deputy Chairman Renee Amoore, a longtime GOP advocate.
Photo Credit: Upper Merion Township Police
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