Local News in Brief : Mistrial Declared in Child-Stealing Case
A mistrial was declared Monday after jurors deadlocked in the case of a man charged with kidnaping an infant from his adoptive parents’ home in Pacific Palisades on behalf of the child’s natural parents in New Jersey.
The Superior Court jury deadlocked 10 to 2 for guilt on a child-stealing charge against Jonathan Cosby, and 8 to 4 for guilt on a kidnaping charge against him. Judge Judith Chirlin declared a mistrial and scheduled more proceedings for Jan. 24, at which time a new trial date will be selected.
Cosby, 28, remains in custody in lieu of $250,000 bail, the prosecutor said.
Prosecutors said Francis Kiefer, 41, and his wife, Bonnie, 42, of Moorestown, N.J., hired Cosby to kidnap their 13-month-old son from the infant’s adoptive parents, Kenneth and Barbara Smith in Pacific Palisades.
Cosby, armed with a shotgun, broke into the Smith home Dec. 11, 1987. He took the boy and flew him to the Kiefers in New Jersey, prosecutors said.
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