Defendant: Laysha Machado (DOB: 09/25/90)

Aug. 13, 2019 -- Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced that Laysha Machado, of Yonkers, was arraigned yesterday (8/12) following an indictment on charges related to an attempt to kidnap a toddler from the emergency room of a Yonkers hospital.

Specifically, Machado was indicted by a Westchester County Grand Jury on the following:

  • Attempted Kidnapping in the Second Degree, a class C felony
  • Unlawful Imprisonment in the First Degree, a class E felony
  • Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a misdemeanor

Following arraignment before Westchester County Court Judge David Zuckerman, Machado was remanded into custody in Westchester County Jail. Her next court date is scheduled for Sept. 3, 2019.

Background
The indictment alleges, on Feb. 15, 2019, Laysha Machado entered the emergency room of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Yonkers where she took a stroller with another person’s child inside and fled the building. A hospital security guard chased her outside the hospital and held her until Yonkers Police arrived.

The 2-year-old child was safely returned to its mother. The indictment alleges the child was abducted and “exposed to a risk of serious physical injury.”

The case is being handled by the Special Prosecutions Division.

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Laysha Machado

 In compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 3.6, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

If you, or anyone you know, has information about potential crimes related to this defendant, you or they are encouraged to come forward and notify local police. [Information on using booking photos]

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