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Smith trial begins
News · July 31, 2014


The federal kidnapping trial of an aunt accused of leaving her kidnapped nephew in sub-freezing cold in West Branch began Monday with jury selection, opening arguments and some expert testimony that suggests the aunt planned the abduction.


The Associated Press reported Monday that prosecution witnesses say Kristen Smith, 31, of Aurora, Colo., had search history on her computer showing she visited Web sites about fake pregnancy bellies and how to obtain birth certificates.

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the defense argued that Smith had permission to take the 5-day-old infant, Kayden Powell, from his Beloit, Wis., home back in February because the parents planned to move to Colorado to follow a potential new job for the father.

Smith faces up to life in prison if found guilty of taking the baby and, when she thought police were closing in, leaving him in a grey tote box at the BP-Amoco station in West Branch for as many as 29 hours.

The baby was found the following day by West Branch Police, alive and apparently unharmed.

The trial is expected to last most of this week.