UPDATE: Babysitter of missing baby charged

KSDK -- The 16-year-old mother of a missing five-month-old boy is pleading for his safe return. Now the woman police say took her is facing a criminal charge.

Makeela King told NewsChannel 5's Sharon Stevens she loves her baby boy, Cortez L. Rose, who she said is nicknamed Lil' Pimp.

A S.A.R.A.A. alert was issued after Madison, Illinois Police Chief Steven Shelby said Danielle Medina, originally from New York City, took Rose from a home at 1545 5th Street in Madison while his mother was shopping for clothes for her son in East St. Louis on Saturday around 2:00 p.m. When the mother returned, they were both gone.

Steven Shelby said the family reported the child missing about 24 hours later.

Prosecutors charged Medina this afternoon with aggravated kidnapping. When she is taken into custody, she will be held under $500,000 bond.

Medina and Rose were last seen near the Granite City bus stop at 19th and Edison Streets.

Chief Shelby said Medina is wanted in New York on felony warrants for alleged child endangerment.

Medina came to the Metro East recently with a male friend. The family said they met Medina through a cousin, but that they barely knew her.

Police describe Medina as an African-American girl who is five feet tall and weighs 120 pounds. She has a black pony tail with orange and black weave for bangs. She was last seen wearing a long brown shirt and black leggings. She also goes by the last name of Gillyard.

Rose is 22 inches long and weighs 20 pounds. He was last seen wearing a red t-shirt and a diaper. He has a birth mark on his right arm near his shoulder and one on his right ankle.

Anyone who has seen Rose or Medina is asked to call their local police department or Madison Police at 618-876-4300.