Mom Influencer Accuses Latino Couple Of Attempted Child Abduction In Viral Video, Police Closes Case After Finding No Evidence

Earlier this week, a mom influencer's video went viral in which she narrated her story of surviving an attempted child abduction. According to a press release from the Petaluma Police Department, the accused couple has been cleared of all the allegations and the case has been closed. A family member close the accused couple has now accused the influencer of racial profiling

According to a report, mom influencer Katie Sorenson, previously known by the Instagram handle @motherhoodessentials (account no longer in use), accused a couple of nearly kidnapping her children at a local Michael’s craft store.

Before the incident, Sorenson reportedly had around 6,000 followers, but she amassed over 80,000 followers as of December 15.

Katie Sorensen says strangers tried to kidnap her kids outside the Petaluma @MichaelsStores after following them around inside. Her @instagram video (partial here) has hit 2M views. @petaluma_police investigating. She & @PollyDad speak out to @KTVU 5:15, 6:15, 7:30 p.m. pic.twitter.com/cG0wnm2JgQ

— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) December 15, 2020

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The Petaluma police department, in their press release, said that Sorenson reached out to the police on December 7, reporting an incident of a couple suspiciously following her at the local Michael’s craft store and passing comments on her children’s appearance. She also accused the couple of following her outside to her car but said they left when a nearby individual noticed.

Following an investigation in the area, however, the local police found no witnesses or evidence to support the influencer's claim.

Then on December 14, the Northern California city of Petaluma police said that Sorenson revealed new information about the incident in her viral video which she hadn’t disclosed before on December 7.

Providing another account of the same event, she said the man who followed her around the store and out to the car had approached her child’s stroller and tried to grab it.

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Following numerous public and media requests for information about an attempted kidnapping, Petaluma police contacted the accused couple via social media.

“We received information about the identity of the couple and contacted them via a private message to their social media. They promptly responded, agreed to be interviewed, and have fully cooperated with the investigation. While acknowledging they had shopped at Michael’s and were the couple shown in the photograph, they denied the allegations being made against them by the Sorenson," the police said.

Now speaking to BuzzFeed News an anonymous person related to the Latino couple has accused  Katie Sorenson of racial profiling. "This isn’t the first racist injustice to occur in Petaluma by a long shot, but we are definitely grateful that in this case the truth was rightfully pursued," said the family member, adding, "Somewhere in her mind she sincerely misconstrued this 'brown' couple innocently shopping at a craft store and discussing their own grandchildren as activity that was somehow threatening to her family."

Vanshika is an Intern with SheThePeople.TV.