Woman pleads guilty to abduction of Ottawa newborn on Mother's Day
A Shawville, Que. woman has pleaded guilty to several charges including abducting an eight-day-old newborn in Ottawa on Mother's Day.
Nicole Shanks entered the plea in court Friday afternoon. She appeared virtually from Quinte, Ont.
Shanks pleaded guilty to abduction, assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon, criminal harassment and assault.
The baby was not injured during the incident.
A date for sentencing is expected to be set in January.
According to an agreed statement of facts read in court, it was in May 2021 when Shanks befriended the baby's mother on a Facebook group for new moms. They met on May 7 where Shanks gave the woman baby clothes and a Wal-Mart gift card.
Shanks told the new mom she was pregnant and was going to have a C-section as the new mom had, the court heard.
Shanks later messaged the new mother again saying she worked at the courthouse as a social worker and had put her name down for a Mother's Day basket and hot breakfast delivery that would be delivered on May 9.
The agreed statement of facts states Shanks then sent the mother a message saying the delivery company has messed up and that Shanks herself showed up at the house "pretending to be the delivery company."
"She knocked on [the mother's] door and had a McDonald's bag in her hand saying that there was a mix up and she had the wrong breakfast for [the mother] and they left. [The mother] was messaging with the accused before and after this delivery person was at her door and it was only at this time that [she] started to feel like something was not right with what was taking place….[the mother] was sure that the delivery person that was just at her house was the accused but at the time was confused as to why she would pretend to be the delivery person."
Later, the court heard, Shanks texted the victim to say she'd be bringing the breakfast and when she arrived, she sprayed the victim in the face and body with bear spray, making it difficult for her to see.
"Then the accused stated. 'I need to take him,'" the crown attorney read in court. "[The mother] was panicking, her eyes were burning and she couldn't see. [She] tried to get the accused out of her home but couldn't."
The mother ran outside, yelling for help and Shanks ran out of the house with the baby.
A nearby neighbour chased Shanks and intervened. Court documents state Shanks punched him in the face.
Shanks was arrested by police shortly after.
The agreed statement of facts also stated that "neighbours reported that the accused had been seen walking around [the mother's] home over the past few days watching the house. She was looking in her windows and walking around the front and back of the house."
Shanks also pleaded guilty Friday to a number of other outstanding charges including theft and failing to appear in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.