Charges dropped against grandma accused of kidnapping 8-month-old

LINCOLN COUNTY, NC (FOX 46 WJZY) - The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office has dropped the abduction charges against a woman who was accused of kidnapping her eight-month-old granddaughter, and she has been granted an emergency custody order to keep the child. 

Deputies said Rebecca Lynn Stanley called 911 at 5:40 p.m. Monday, June 11 after she could not pick up her infant daughter and needed assistance. 

The grandmother had been babysitting the 8-month-old child since Wednesday, June 6 while the mother was working. When Stanley said she was bringing the child's father with her who was recently released from jail, the grandmother refused to return the child and fled. 

The child is described as having blond hair, blue eyes, 17 pounds, and is two feet tall. She also has a birthmark on her head near the neck. 

The grandmother, identified as Shelley Lovin Heafner, 62, of Lincolnton, had been charged with one felony count of abduction of a child.

The charges were dropped Tuesday afternoon after a judge granted Heafner emergency custody. Officials say the baby is safe in the care of her grandmother and no additional charges are expected.