Woman Accused Of Kidnapping Newborn Pleads Not Guilty

Wednesday, April 4th 2007, 12:28 pm

By: News On 6

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) _ A 21-year-old woman accused of slipping into a hospital maternity ward in hospital scrubs and abducting a newborn pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a kidnapping charge.

Rayshaun Parson wore shackles as she stood with her attorney and entered the plea in connection with the March 10 abduction of the little girl, Mychael Darthard-Dawodu. A trial date was set for May 7.

Surveillance footage from Covenant Lakeside Hospital showed a woman wearing blue and flower-print hospital scrubs and a gray, puffy jacket with a hood walking out of the hospital around 1:20 a.m. She was carrying a large purse as she walked past an unstaffed information desk near the exit.

The baby was found the next day in Clovis, N.M., where Parson lived. Parson has been in federal custody since her arrest.

Prosecutors have said Parson scouted security measures at Covenant and also went to another Lubbock maternity ward the day the baby was abducted.

A judge has issued a gag order in the case.