BROWARD COUNTY, FL – A Florida woman faces felony charges after allegedly attempting to kidnap a 5-year-old boy from his grandmother’s vehicle at a gas station, claiming the child was “the wrong color” to be with the woman.
Ivanna Nobile, 38, was arrested Tuesday morning and charged with false imprisonment of a child and burglary. Immigration authorities have also placed a hold on Nobile following her arrest.
The incident occurred when a grandmother stopped her SUV at a Broward County gas station after the vehicle began emitting smoke. While the woman addressed the mechanical issue, Nobile approached the vehicle and showed what appeared to be an Argentinian identification card, claiming the person pictured was her aunt.
Without warning, Nobile opened the rear passenger door where the child was seated and grabbed the boy’s arm. “I’m taking him. This child is the wrong color to be with this woman,” Nobile stated, according to authorities.
The grandmother’s screams for help drew the attention of nearby witnesses, who reported seeing Nobile “pulling on” the child’s arm as she attempted to remove him from the vehicle. The grandmother immediately called 911 while fighting to protect her grandson.
Surveillance cameras at the gas station captured the incident, and multiple witness accounts corroborated the grandmother’s version of events, according to police reports.
Law enforcement officers arrived on scene and took Nobile into custody. The suspect refused to cooperate with investigating officers, authorities said.
The child was not injured during the attempted kidnapping. The grandmother and child were released after providing statements to police.
Nobile remains in custody at the Broward County jail pending her court appearance. The case remains under investigation.
