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New details emerge in multi-state kidnapping of 2-year-old Detroit girl

Posted at 12:35 PM, Aug 03, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-03 17:18:21-04

A criminal complaint unsealed in federal court has detailed the events of the kidnapping of a 2-year-old Detroit girl on Tuesday.

According to the complaint, it all started when the suspect, Grady Lamar Barrett, went to the home of 2-year-old Sondra Renee's great aunt.

The complaint states that Barrett, who is also the boyfriend of Sondra's mother, went to the home and said he had babysitting money for the great aunt. She let Barrett into the home and once inside, she saw he was armed with a "large machete type knife."

While he was holding the machete, Barrett knocked down the great aunt, grabbed Sondra and left the house. According to the complaint, a witness said Barrett held the machete to Sondra's as he left the home.

Police were called and an AMBER Alert was sent out just before 8 a.m.

The complaint states that GPS coordinates for Barrett's cell phone indicated he was south of Findlay, Ohio around 7:10 a.m. Kidnapping and going across state lines makes it a federal offense.

Around 8:45 a.m., a Monroe police officer saw what looked like Barrett's truck. When they identified the truck was Barrett's, they tried to pull him over. He took off with speeds up to 100 mph. The chase concluded on Detroit's west side at 7 Mile and Meyers around 9:45 a.m.

A woman who was with Barrett in the truck said she was his neighbor and got in thinking she was going to do Sondra's hair.

Barrett also allegedly called Sondra's aunt saying "Who has the last laugh now?"

He is also facing charges in Detroit for third fleeing and eluding, felonious assault and fourth degree child abuse.

Grady Barrett Criminal Complaint by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd