A 2-year-old boy was found Sunday sitting next to a woman police said had clocked at 90 mph on Interstate 90 and who had been smoking marijuana, police said.
The 27-year-old driver, Cherita Foreman of Cleveland, could not tell police the infant's name or age, according to the Westlake Police Department.
But, when NewsChannel 5 confronted Foreman Friday, she said this:
"That's my nephew," she said. "You didn't know your nephew's name or age?" asked Kristin Volk of NewsChannel 5. "Yeah," she responded.
She then requested that all questions be directed to her attorney.
The boy, who had visited an aunt for Easter, somehow ended up with Foreman, police said.
His purported mother, father and grandmother were contacted, but police said they did not cooperate and were evasive. They didn't appear to know the child's birthday.
When found, the boy was in a booster seat that was unsafe for his age and was not secured to the van's seat, according to police. There were also no baby items like a diaper bag or change of clothing in the vehicle.
Officials found handcuffs and credit cards in the van that belonged to two Lakewood women who employed Foreman. She had stolen her employer's identities to obtain the cards, police said.
After a long and convoluted joint investigation by the police and Cuyahoga County, the boy's Toledo mom was identified and the county returned him to her, police said. In the meantime, police had bought diapers for the child and changed him. Cuyahoga County Children's services took custody until his mother was found.
Foreman was charged with speeding, child endangerment, possession of marijuana and identity fraud, along with other charges, according to police. She is a home healthcare worker.
Lucas County Children's Services would not confirm whether the boy is back with family or in the agency's custody, but a spokeswoman said they are working with the family to make sure the boy is safe now and in the future.
