SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah, June 13, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — A woman who sparked an Amber Alert Friday after she allegedly took the 9-year-old son of an acquaintance without permission has been charged with child kidnapping, a first-degree felony.
Marie Erika Lynn Marsh, 33, also faces a possible charge of obstruction of justice — capital/first-degree felony conduct, a second-degree felony.
South Salt Lake police responded to a report of a possible abduction Friday.
“The caller reported that her 9-year-old son had been taken the night before by a female acquaintance that was later identified as the arrested party, Marie Erika Lynn Marsh,” says Marsh’s arrest document, filed by an officer of the South Salt Lake Police Department.
“Through the investigation, officers found that (Marsh) had utilized her two minor children to gain access to the victim and convince the family that the victim was with to allow the victim to go with (Marsh).”
“The victim’s mother reported that (Marsh) had convinced the child the night before to leave with her. The victim’s mother, who is the child’s legal guardian, reported to police that (Marsh) did not have
permission to take her child and was unaware that (Marsh) had taken her child.”
The victim’s mother reported that Marsh has made threats in the past to take the child to St. George and move into a family shelter.
The victim had been communicating with Marsh through Facebook Messenger, and officers were able to do so as well, the arrest document says.
Marsh knew officers were involved, the statement says. Marsh reportedly told officers she did not have the 9-year-old boy, and had dropped him off at a park hours earlier. Officers checked the park and the boy’s residence, and did not locate him.
Marsh next told officers she had dropped the boy off with a Division of Child and Family Services case worker. Ultimately, the boy was found with Marsh in the area of 7200 South and 380 East.
Marsh was taken into custody and transported to the SSL Police Department. Post Miranda, Marsh told police the boy said he had permission to go with her, her arrest document says.
Marsh was booked into the Salt Lake County jail, to be held without bail.
