Britteny, a 7 year-old second grader, screamed and kicked her way out of a kidnapping attempt in an Atlanta area Walmart.
Brittney Baxter was alone in the toy aisle of a Bremen, Ga., Walmart on Wednesday while her mom was briefly in the fruit section. Brittney’s mother was only gone for a couple of minutes when Thomas A. Woods, 25, of Austell, Ga., grabbed Brittney and tried to take her out of the store.
Store video captured Woods trying to silence Brittney while she fought back. In an interview with ABC News, Brittney said, “I was screaming and kicking and trying to get away and he put his hand over my mouth.”
Woods decided this wasn’t going to be easy, so he dropped the girl and ran out of the store.
Surveillance cameras outside the store captured Woods getting into his car. Police were able to put out a detailed alert that resulted in Woods being caught by police less than an hour later at his home in Tallapoosa, Ga. – a town about 10 miles west of the store.
Woods was released last October from state prison after serving four years for a 2004 conviction for voluntary manslaughter. Woods is denying that he was in the Walmart.
Woods has been charged with attempted kidnapping and is being held at the Haralson County Jail.
Brittney’s family is grateful their daughter is safe and happy that she is such a fighter. “I’m very proud of her,” said her dad, Randall Baxter. “I just thank the Lord that she got away.” Brittney’s mother said she will forever be afraid to take her eyes off her daughter.
In the ABC News interview, Brittney was asked if she had any advice to offer other children. Brittney said, “Always scream, try to scream and kick as hard as you can and go get someone you can trust.”
Good advice from Brittney and good for her for fighting and not allowing herself to become another missing child victim and statistic. Also, thankfully there were surveillance cameras that caught this guy.
Watch video @ abcnews
Other Source: Huffington Post
