Four children in Detroit were walking to school on November 30th, 2021, when they were kidnapped by a woman in a van on Detroit’s west side.
A 37-year-old woman named Stephanie Mari Binder ran a red light about 7:30 am, speeding right past a Detroit police car. When officers approached the passenger side of the van, they saw four black children in the back seat: an 11-year-old boy, an 8-year-old girl, a 7-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy, according to authorities.
Police say they saw the children crying said their body language was concerning. A prosecutor says, “They ask Ms. Binder, ‘Are these your children?’ and she says yes. They are not her children. The officers, due to the emotions of the children in the back — they ask if they know this woman, and the children shake their heads. At this point, Ms. Binder is detained”.
Binder stole the van, then admitted she lured the children into her van and drove away with the kids, telling them she was taking them to school. How did the kids end up in the van? The prosecutor says, “The youngest child got into the van, at which time the oldest child, who is 11, tried to grab his brother back, but Ms. Binder got out of the car and pushed them toward her van, telling them to get in.” It was caught on a Ring doorbell recording.
Binder was arraigned December 3rd, and is being held on a 5 million dollar bond. If released, she’s not allowed to have contact with the victims and must wear a GPS tether and remain on house arrest.
Binder has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple retail frauds, multiple failure to appear warrants, a drug conviction, and she was discharged from parole in April after leaving the scene of a deadly crash in which she was at fault.
“I just thank everyone involved that my children are back home safe,” said Shayla Burleigh, the children’s mother. “She preyed on my youngest one. The oldest one didn’t want to leave his youngest brother,” their mother said. “He did what he had to do.”
WebCelebDaily will keep you updated as this case unfolds.
