February 3, 2010
Update- March 17, 2010
Elizabeth Johnson Set to Appear in Court
Elizabeth Johnson is expected to appear in court today. Investigators believe that she knows something about where Baby Gabriel is and prosecutors are hopeful she will break her silence. The judge is prepared to use whatever means necessary for her to provide information about the case. Meanwhile, the search continues for Baby Gabriel in Texas, led by his father Logan McQueary and private investigator Jay J. Armes.
Update- March 9, 2010
Elizabeth Johnson Charged
Elizabeth Johnson is scheduled to appear before the judge on Tuesday, March 9. She is being charged with child abuse, kidnapping, attempted custodial interference and custodial interference in connection with the disappearance of baby Gabriel Johnson. The 9-month old baby was last seen on December 26, 2009. Meanwhile, baby Gabriel’s father continues to search for his son in San Antonio with private investigator Jay J. Armes.
Update- February 16, 2010
Search Continues
The search for baby Gabriel Johnson continues in a San Antonio landfill. The search has been delayed due to weather but is expected to continue. Police, FBI and US Marshal's Service are all participating in the search for the baby that was last seen December 26, 2009 with his mother Elizabeth Johnson. Investigators are focused on finding a missing diaper bag-- the only item of Gabriel's that Johnson did not leave behind in the hotel room. Dozens of leads continue to come in everyday.
Update- February 3, 2010
Person of Interest Tammi Smith Arrested & Released
Tempe police arrested “person of interest” in the missing baby Gabriel case, Tammi Smith, 37 on counts of forgery, custodial interference and conspiracy to commit custodial interference. Smith is accused of providing Gabriel’s mother, Elizabeth Johnson with adoption advice. In hopes of adopting the baby herself, Smith is also accused of “bullying” the baby’s father Logan McQueary to sign over his custodial rights via threatening text messages and phone calls. Police do not believe Smith has anything to do with the baby’s disappearance or has any information about where baby Gabriel is. Tammi Smith was released on Wednesday morning.
Search Continues for Baby Gabriel Johnson
Internationally known private investigator Jay J. Armes has now taken on the baby Gabriel case. Armes has met with the baby’s father McQueary and they are prepared to retrace Elizabeth Johnson’s journey and figure out where she got separated from Gabriel in San Antonio. Searches for baby Gabriel’s body continue at local landfills but Armes believes the baby is still alive.
Update- January 26, 2010
Elizabeth Johnson Pleads Not Guilty in Missing Child Case
Baby Gabriel Johnson’s mother Elizabeth Johnson pleaded not guilty in court on Monday January 25 on charges of conspiracy to commit custodial interference and custodial interference. In addition, Ms. Johnson is being charged for kidnapping and child abuse. Searches continue for the missing baby.
Update- January 19, 2010
New Photos of Missing Baby
As of January 19, 2010, the search continues for 8-month old Gabriel Johnson. New photos of the baby have been released, believed to be taken as late as December 26, 2009 with Elizabeth Johnson’s camera. The police are concerned because the baby appears to be extremely tired and holding some sort of medicine bottle. The photographs and lack of evidence are causing investigators concern, and they conducting parallel investigations because they do not know whether baby Gabriel is alive or dead.
Update- January 14, 2010
The Smiths Visit Mother of Missing Child in Jail
The Smiths (see below, “Persons of Interest”) visited Elizabeth Johnson in jail on Wednesday. After speaking to Johnson, Mrs. Smith is sure that baby Gabriel is still alive. She reports that Johnson described more details about the appearances of the young, Caucasian couple she gave the baby to. Smith went on to say, “According to Elizabeth, these people are going to try and hide this baby”.
Update- January 13, 2010
Reward for Information about Missing Child Case
A news release from the Tempe Police Department announced that there is now a $5,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of Gabriel Johnson. If you have any information about this case, please call San Antonio Crime Stoppers at 210-224-STOP (7867). There is also a national tip line through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, call (800) THE-LOST (843-5678).
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Baby Gabriel’s Disappearance
Gabriel Johnson, born May 3, 2009, was last seen on December 26, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas with his mother 23 year-old Elizabeth Johnson of Tempe, Arizona. Eight-month old baby Gabriel was officially missing the next day when his biological father, 25 year-old Logan McQueary, received text messages from the mother that she had killed the baby and dropped him in a dumpster. Elizabeth Johnson was arrested in Miami Beach on December 29. Ms. Johnson then changed her story and said she gave baby Gabriel to a couple she met in Texas that seemed “trustworthy”.
As of January 11, 2010, police believe that baby Gabriel is still alive. They have received information that Ms. Johnson attempted to sell or give away her son.
The Smiths: Persons of Interest
Last Thursday, Jack and Tammi Peters Smith became ‘persons of interest’ in the case because of their connection to the Johnsons. The Smiths, of Scottsdale, Arizona, approached distressed Elizabeth and then one-month Gabriel at the Indianapolis airport last spring. Ms. Johnson talked to them about needing help with the baby and took their contact information.
The couple did not hear from Ms. Johnson until months later on the evening of December 8, 2009. She contacted them to see if they were interested in adopting Gabriel because she didn’t want the father to get custody. The Smiths kept Gabriel in temporary custody for eight days. McQueary, the biological father would not grant legal permission to terminate his parental rights. Johnson took the baby back from the Smiths allegedly to follow the court order and give him to McQueary. The Smiths have stated that they were not involved in baby Gabriel’s disappearance and do not have any information about where he is.
Elizabeth Johnson’s Next Move
After getting Gabriel back from the Smiths, Ms. Johnson drove with him to Texas, where she says she now gave the baby to another couple who approached her in a park before continuing on to Miami Beach, where she was first arrested. She now being help by Tempe police on a $1 million cash bail and being charged with kidnap and abuse.
Police continue to say they are receiving indications that baby Gabriel is still alive. Anyone with information about Gabriel Johnson is asked to call the Tempe Police Department at 480-350-8311.
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