Woman Tried to Kidnap Child & Attacked Mother after Faking Pregnancy

Andrea Endara-Paredes

Andrea Stefany Endara-Paredes, 24, is facing attempted murder charges and kidnapping charges after she faked a pregnancy, coaxed a woman to bring her small child with her to an apartment complex and beat the woman with a tire iron after she stole her baby.

Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Homicide Unit are conducting an investigation into a Kidnapping and Attempted Murder that occurred in the Providence Division at the 4200 block of Knob Oak Lane. The call for service came in at 10:23 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, 2012.

Westover Division patrol officers initially responded to a call for service at the Beacon Ridge Apartments off South Boulevard in reference to a kidnapping.  Upon arrival,  they located two adult female victims on scene. The husband of one of the victims stated their 1-month old child, the third victim, had been kidnapped from another location at knife point.

The two victims on scene were transported from the Beacon Ridge Apartments to police headquarters where they were interviewed by Homicide Detectives. During the course of the investigation it was determined that one of the victims was in fact the suspect. During the incident the mother was allegedly told by Endara-Paredes to tell police she was kidnapped by two black men who also took her child, but officers said that story quickly did not add up. The mother's 4-year-old child was not kidnapped.

Homicide Detectives were able to locate the child unharmed a short time later in Endara-Paredes' apartment with her boyfriend, who thought the baby was his. Police believe the woman had been faking a pregnancy for the last nine months and went as far as having a baby shower and telling her boyfriend she was pregnant.

The suspect has been identified as Ms. Endara is being charged with Attempted Murder, three counts of Kidnapping, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Assault on a Child Under 12. The suspect was transported to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office where she remains in custody.

Crime Scene Search responded to the incident location to process the scene and collect physical evidence.  Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit Detective. Detective Strother is the lead detective assigned to the case. In addition, you may also call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.