Abduction Charge Dropped Against Lincoln County Grandmother

LINCOLNTON, N.C. — A child abduction charge issued against a grandmother police say refused to return her grandchild to its mother has been dropped.

A judge dropped the charge against the grandmother, Shelley Heafner, Tuesday and also granted her an emergency custody order to keep the child.

Since June 6th, Heafner has been babysitting her eight-month-old granddaughter while the child’s mother was working. The child’s mother, Rebecca Lynn Stanley, made a keep the peace call to Lincoln County Police on June 11th in order to retrieve her daughter from Heafner without conflict.

When Stanley told Heafner that the child’s father, who has recently been released from jail, would be accompanying her, Heafner fled with the child. Deputy M. Schaeffer responded to the call, but Heafner left the scene before the deputy and Stanley could arrive.

The child, Harmony Stanley, is safe and still in the care of the grandmother, according to officials. No additional charges are expected.