Giveaway of baby attempt derailed

A Yakima, Wash., official doubts a Bonners Ferry woman, who attempted to give her baby to a hitchhiker on Sunday in Kootenai County, will get her back.

"Since the Amber Alert was based on (Tiffany) Little taking the child, I am giving an educated guess that it is not very likely she will re-gain custody," said Ken Nichols, regional administrator for Child Protective Services.

Little, 38, also tried to give her daughter, Aspen, who turns 1 on Saturday, to several members of a church congregation in Sprague, Wash, according to police and news reports.

Nichols said Tuesday the infant is doing well in a foster care in Yakima County, where Little was taken into custody with the baby. She was not charged and released, according to police.

Bonner County will be taking jurisdiction in Aspen's case, and a hearing will be held to determine who will take temporary custody of the child.

Nichols said the father of the baby was in their office and is very interested in taking custody of his daughter. He will be at the hearing in Sandpoint on Wednesday.

Little was involved in a series of events that began at 1:45 p.m. Friday with an arson at her home at 6442 Comanche St.

"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the fire was set on purpose," said Bonners Ferry Fire Chief Pat Warkentin.

A stack of papers were placed in the oven, which was turned on high.

Bonners Ferry Deputy Chief of Police Joel Minor said there is a suspect. No charges have been filed yet.

Little was moving out of the home, which according to Multiple Listing Service has been for sale for several months.

Little stayed at the Country Inn in Sagle on Friday where a welfare check was made without incident for suspicious activity on Little's part, said Ponderay Police Chief Michael Hutter.

On Saturday morning, she checked into the Holiday Express Hotel in Ponderay. Police said they were contacted by employees after Little refused to leave the property.

Her credit cards weren't any good, and according to police, Little was asking for valet parking, room service to unpack and pack her belongings, and service to collect her belongings from Country Inn.

Police reports also state that employees noticed Little in the breakfast area without her baby and left the door to her room cracked. Little told them her dog was trained to watch her baby.

Police contacted Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. An agency official determined the baby was not in danger, was healthy and he was not worried about her care. The officer then told Little if she refused to leave, she would be arrested, the baby would be put into Child Protective Services and the dog sheltered. She began packing and left the property.

An Amber Alert was issued on Sunday when someone notified police that Little was trying to give her daughter to a hitchhiker on Highway 95 near Hayden.

Idaho State Police received a 911 call at 8:50 a.m. from a female named Betty, who is an acquaintance of Little's, according to a published report. Betty said Little tried to give the baby to her.

According to news reports, Little tried to give the child away several more times when she stopped at Sprague Washington Community Church. There officers say Little caused a scene and tried to give the infant to several members of the congregation.

Witnesses said when nobody would take the child, Little began to offer money to anyone who would take the baby.

Just after 2 p.m. Sunday, police were called for someone not paying for gas at a station in George, Wash. When police arrived, they found a 19-year-old man who told officers he got out of the car when Little refused to drive back to Idaho.

The man told police Little filled up her car with gas and then left without paying. The man told police a chocolate Labrador and the baby were with her.

Sunday evening Washington State troopers pulled over Little, and she and her child were taken into protective custody by Yakima County sheriff's deputies near Mabton.

According to Yakima Sheriff Sgt. Bob Udell, Little was making random statements. Little was convinced to give the baby to Child Protective Services.

She was released later Sunday evening after no charges were filed.