Q-C woman charged with child stealing

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By Ann McGlynn | Monday, December 10, 2007 12:42 PM CST | () comments

A law enforcement alert has been issued for a 6-year-old girl who was given to her aunt by her grandmother, Davenport police said.

Sally Ann Carmichael, 64, of Davenport gave the girl to her daughter, Michelle Carroll, 46, of Lehigh Township, Pa., after the girl stayed the weekend at Carmichael’s residence. The girl did so, police said, because the mother, Melissa Thomas, 27, of Bettendorf, was afraid her electricity was going to be shut off, Davenport police Capt. David Struckman said.

Carmichael is charged with child stealing. Carroll, who has custody of another of Thomas’ children, is believed to be en route to Pennsylvania. Authorities do not believe the child is in danger.

The Iowa Department of Human Services has been notified.

Thomas has a record that includes an arrest in 2006 for theft, child endangerment, neglect and for using a child to commit a crime, namely shoplifting at SuperTarget in Davenport. She was convicted of the theft charge.