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Parents of kidnapped newborn file lawsuit

April 01, 2005|KATERINE BELCHER

STANFORD - The parents of a newborn baby who was kidnapped from Fort Logan Hospital last year have filed a lawsuit against the hospital's parent company.

Corey and Samantha Barrows, parents of Grayci Barrows, filed the lawsuit last month in Lincoln Circuit Court against Ephraim McDowell Health and EMHFL, which does business as Fort Logan Hospital.

The suit claims the hospital was negligent, failed to identify safety problems, and did not follow safety procedures.

In a telephone interview Wednesday, Samantha Barrows said she has been advised not to comment on the case and directed any questions to her attorney, Ryan Green, who has an office in Erlanger. Green could not be reached for comment.

Barrows said Grayci is doing well and turns 1 year old today.

"She's been walking for a couple months, and she's doing great," said Barrows.

Grayci was barely 12 hours old when a hospital worker, Tanya Shelton, kidnapped her from the hospital.

Shelton had been lying to relatives and friends about being pregnant, and police found a blank birth certificate and nursery set up in Shelton's home.

Police said medical tests revealed Shelton was not pregnant. The lawsuit states that at the time of the abduction, Shelton was employed by the hospital even though she had a criminal record for theft and forgery charges.

It states that the hospital was not equipped with any electronic security system for newborn babies or surveillance equipment to monitor the interior and exterior of the maternity ward.

No specific amount of money sought

Although the lawsuit does not seek a specific amount of money, it does ask for damages in an amount to be determined by a jury to compensate the Barrowses for their past, present and future pain and suffering, lost wages, and present and future medical expenses.

Police in Stanford issued an Amber alert after hospital officials notified them of the kidnapping. Grayci was found six hours later in an alley behind a consignment shop in Bowling Green. The baby was treated in Bowling Green and then flown to Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville.

Shelton pleaded guilty to kidnapping and was sentenced to 20 years in prison and is currently incarcerated at the Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women in Pee Wee Valley.

Mary Begley, spokeswoman for Ephraim McDowell Health, said she couldn't discuss any details of the lawsuit due to the sensitive nature of the case.

"We are so happy that baby Grayci is doing well as she celebrates her first birthday," said Begley.

"A year ago, the quick responses of our nursing staff, administration and law enforcement agencies were instrumental in baby Grayci Burrows' safe, happy recovery."

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