St. John officials search for baby kidnapped by man who sexually abused mother

LAPLACE – Officials in St. John Parish are searching for a man who sexually assaulted a woman and then stole a car with her eight-month-old child inside.

The victim told officers that she was driving through Laplace around 3 a.m. on May 28 when she was sexually assaulted and dragged from the vehicle. She said her attacker, Donnell Hyams, fled in the car and her son, Phil Baker, was inside.

St. John Sheriff Mike Tregre said the victim was taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

“She’s in pretty bad shape,” the sheriff said.

Hyams, 40, is a convicted sex offender and was found guilty of having sexual intercourse with a minor in 2013.

State police have issued a baby endangerment alert. Troopers said Hyams may be driving a blue Hyundai Sonata. No license plates have been identified, but the vehicle has a chrome rim on the rear passenger side and a black rim on the front passenger side.

Anyone with information about Hyams or the baby should call (504) 494-3840.