A statewide Amber Alert remains in effect this morning as Atlanta police urgently search for two young sisters believed to have been abducted by their babysitter.
Four-year-old Zola Cooper and her 11-month-old sister, Norah Cooper, were reported missing after they were last seen near Jones Avenue NW and James P. Brawley Drive NW. Authorities have identified the suspect as the children’s babysitter, Lakesha Brown.
Critical Search Underway
The Atlanta Police Department issued the emergency alert—known in Georgia as a Levi’s Call—after the girls vanished. Investigators believe Brown may be traveling with the children toward Southwest Atlanta.
Police have released the following descriptions to aid the public in their search:
Zola Cooper: 4 years old, 3 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 42 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes.
Norah Cooper: 11 months old, 2 feet tall, weighing 28 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. Notably, the infant is missing two fingers on her right hand.
Suspect and Vehicle Details
The suspect, Lakesha Brown, is believed to be driving a large commercial vehicle.
Vehicle: White 2009 Ford F-350
License Plate: Alabama tag 1C087Y4
Similar Name With Prior Kidnapping Arrest
In August 2021, a Lakesha Brown (who was then age 37) was arrested and charged with first-degree kidnapping by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama. In that previous incident, Brown was acting as a family friend when she abducted a 4-day-old newborn from a home in Fairfield, Alabama while the mother was resting. The infant was safely recovered the same day.
At this time there has been no official confirmation that the Lakesha Brown from the 2021 incident is the same person connected to the disappearance of Norah and Zola.
Authorities warn the public not to approach the suspect or the vehicle if spotted. Anyone with any information regarding the whereabouts of Zola and Norah Cooper is urged to immediately call 911 or contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Tip Line at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477).
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