Abduction Suspect, 16, Charged in Air of Secrecy

Kidnaping and child stealing charges were filed Tuesday in Orange County Juvenile Court against Dana Jennifer O’Hair, 16. But court officials clamped a lid of secrecy on the case in which she is accused of abducting a 3-year-old girl last week.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Cheryl Bedsworth said Tuesday that she filed the charges and that a detention hearing also was held on Tuesday to determine whether O’Hair should remain in custody pending trial. But Bedsworth said she is legally prohibited from disclosing the outcome of the hearing or the trial date because the suspect is a juvenile.

“It is still considered confidential as far as the court is concerned and the court will not be giving out any information on this case,” a court official said, citing laws designed to keep juvenile proceedings secret.

Dana turned herself in Sunday after being urged to do so by her mother and the mother of the abducted girl, Jennifer Lend Ruengsri, who was found unharmed at 10 p.m. Friday near Anaheim’s Sage Park. Dana allegedly abducted Jennifer on Thursday morning from the Ruengsri family’s apartment, where she had been staying. Authorities said there was no evidence the child was physically or sexually abused.