Deputies: Washington woman posing as baby photographer drugged victims, planned to steal newborn

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — A woman and her 16-year-old daughter were arrested Friday after deputies in Washington said she posed as a newborn photographer and drugged a mother.

The woman was planning to steal a newborn baby to raise as her own, investigators said. They also believe there may be other victims who have not come forward.

“If you have been contacted by a woman named ‘Juliette Parker,’ ‘Juliette Noel’ or ‘Juliette Gains’ who posed as a photographer and believe you are a victim, please give our detectives a call as soon as possible at 253-798-7724,” Pierce County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Ed Troyer said in a statement.

On Feb. 5, a woman called 911 after she suddenly began feeling numbness and drowsiness and was vomiting. The woman told firefighters she thought she was drugged.

“After seeking further treatment at a hospital, the victim contacted the Sheriff’s Department to file a police report,” Troyer said. “The victim told deputies that she believed she was drugged by a woman who had come to her house posing as a photographer. The victim reported that she had met the suspect through a post on a newborn baby group on Facebook, where the suspect had advertised free photos of newborn babies so the suspect could build her portfolio.”

Investigators said the suspect came to the victim’s residence three times to photograph the woman’s newborn.

“The suspect was observed taking cell phone selfies with the victim’s baby and was seen wiping her fingerprints off items she touched inside the victim’s home,” Troyer said. “During the third incident, the suspect and the suspect’s teenage daughter gave the victim a cupcake to eat; the victim reported feeling numb and drowsy immediately after eating the cupcake. The victim told the suspect and her daughter to leave her home. After they left, the suspect noticed that the suspect had stolen her house keys.”

Detectives filed search warrants as part of the investigation and believe there are additional victims.

“Our deputies also donated to purchase new locks and window guards for the victim and volunteered to install them at her residence,” Troyer said.

The suspect and her daughter were arrested Friday afternoon in the 4100 block 220th St. E. near Spanaway. She’s expected to have a bail hearing Monday.

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