Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Little Rayanna Boucher playfully bites the hand of her mother Andrea Morgan, at the Spanish Town Police Station yesterday. Rayanna, 19 months old, was reunited with her mother yesterday after she was rescued by the Spanish Town police following her kidnapping last week Monday from her home in Manchester. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

A tearful Andrea Morgan hugged her mother, Angela Spencer yesterday and wept aloud in jubilation, several hours after the police had found her 19-month-old daughter, Rayanna Boucher, alive. The infant was reported stolen last week from the family's home in Pyke district, Manchester.

The 20-year-old mother was overjoyed to be reunited with her only child. Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, Ms. Morgan explained that on October 24, the infant was left at home in the care of a 15-year-old girl, who was staying at the family's home for a short time.

"I left to get some water nearby and when I returned I realised that the girl was missing and the baby was gone too and I started to fret," said Morgan, with tears welling up in her eyes.

Her prayers were answered on Sunday, when she received a call that her child was found at Eltham Park, St. Catherine. Ms. Spencer, who became emotional while at the Spanish Town Police Station yesterday, said the call came shortly after she had fasted and prayed. Several family members and friends who converged at the station said that the 'apple' of their eyes had returned. All this time little Rayanna, oblivious to her plight, kept on playing and laughing as if in her own innocent way was saying she was glad to be home.

Kindness turned betrayal

According to Ms. Morgan, her mother, Ms. Spencer, was too receptive of strangers and it is simply a case of kindness turned betrayal.

"My mother was raised by strangers from the age of 13, and it would be normal for us to take people home, but in light of what happened this will have to stop," Morgan said. The family said the child will be thoroughly checked by a doctor as there are some obvious differences from the time she was taken by the 15-year-old, including the fact that her ears are now pierced.

No charges have been laid against the alleged kidnapper.