Two People Pretended to be CPS Caseworkers in an Attempt to Kidnap a 4-Year-Old Boy

Jessi McCombs, a mom of a 4-year-old boy, shared a warning with parents in Washington state recently after two people came to her door and pretended to work for Child Protective Services.

McCombs told KIRO-TV that a man and woman came to her house, saying that they were caseworkers for CPS and claimed they were there to check on McCombs’ son. “[The woman] said she was with CPS and that she was there about my son’s injuries and that they were to take him into protective custody, McCombs to KIRO-TV. She noted, though, that her son had not recently suffered from any injuries. 

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McCombs told the local TV station that she assumed they had the wrong house and that it was a case of mistaken identity. She asked the woman to show her identification, but the woman refused. 

“These people were potentially trying to just snatch my kid, so I started panicking,” she said. She pretended to call 911 from her phone to scare them away, which fortunately worked. The woman claimed they would be back, McCombs said, and they left in a hurry. 

A spokesperson for The Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families told KIRO-TV that there are no open cases involving McCombs. They also noted that all caseworkers always carry identification. 

“In situations where a child must be removed from their home, DCYF staff are accompanied by law enforcement,” the department said in a statement. “DCYF staff always carry agency identification and cannot remove a child from their home without a court order signed by a judge or by law enforcement taking a child into custody per RCW 26.44.050.”

The Marysville Police Department is currently conducting an investigation and is actively trying to identify the two people who went to McCombs home.