MANILA, Philippines, Sept. 5, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A Utah woman is in custody in the Philippines after she allegedly tried to fly out of the country with a 6-day-old baby in her hand luggage, local authorities said.
Philippines Immigration Bureau spokesman Melvin Mabulac said officials received a report around 6.20 a.m. Wednesday saying that Jennifer Erin Talbot, 43, had been caught with a baby boy in her luggage at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, CNN Philippines reported.
According to Mabulac, Talbot appeared to be traveling alone and presented her own passport. But when staff inspected an oversized carry-on suitcase, they found the child inside. The spokesman said she did not have any travel documents for the infant.
Talbot had claimed to be the child’s aunt, but had not provided any evidence that they were related, CNN reported.
Talbot faces life imprisonment in a Philippine jail and a fine of $38,500 to $96,200, Manuel Dimaano, airport division chief for the bureau said at a press conference Thursday.
The bureau said Talbot had presented an affidavit, allegedly from the baby’s mother, giving consent for the baby to travel to the U.S., but it had not been signed by the mother.
Talbot said she was from Ohio but in court documents the bureau of investigation listed an address in Utah. Records show Talbot lives in Sandy.
