Mother speaks out after Atlanta sisters' alleged kidnapping
Mother of kidnapped Atlanta sisters talks
The mother of two young sisters allegedly kidnapped by their babysitter says she is grateful to have her daughters home but remains shaken by what happened. Elisha Redding said she is grateful to have 4-year-old Zola Cooper and 11-month-old Nora Cooper back in her arms, but she struggles when she thinks about what could have happened to them. Aungelique Proctor reporting.
ATLANTA - The mother of two young sisters rescued from a locked trailer in southwest Atlanta is speaking about the emotional toll of seeing police body camera video showing the moment officers found her children.
What they're saying:
Elicia Redding said she is grateful to have 4-year-old Zola Cooper and 11-month-old Nora Cooper back in her arms, but she struggles when she thinks about what could have happened to them.
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Redding said watching the body camera video released by Atlanta police brought the ordeal back.
"It felt like everything just reoccurred. And it's getting to me in my head. But I got to be strong for my kids," Redding said.
Officers break into locked trailer
What we know:
Body camera video shows Atlanta officers desperately trying to get inside the trailer Monday after the sisters were reported missing.
RELATED: Bodycam footage released of officers rescuing missing girls
Officers initially tried to break a lock before someone arrived with bolt cutters. Once inside, police found the two girls along with Brown, according to investigators.
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Police said residents at the southwest Atlanta apartment complex reported hearing children crying inside the locked trailer.
Redding said hearing her daughters crying in the video was particularly difficult.
"I couldn't look at the whole thing when I heard my babies crying," she said.
Redding also recalled seeing her older daughter respond when police ordered those inside the trailer to put their hands up.
"When the police said, 'Put your hands up,' and my baby put her hands up. It's so sad," she said.
Mother says she met suspect online
The backstory:
Redding said she met Brown about a year ago through a Facebook group for mothers and knew her as "Rose." She said Brown had spent enough time around the family that her children called her "Auntie."
Brown, 42, is now charged with kidnapping and first-degree child cruelty.
Redding said she does not know what Brown allegedly intended to do with her daughters.
"I don't know if she was trying to take them away somewhere or she was hiding, just trying to hide with them, I don't know," Redding said.
Police have said the girls were found in dangerous conditions. The trailer was not air-conditioned, and temperatures outside were near 100 degrees at the time of the rescue.
Redding said she now wants Brown held accountable for what she says her family endured.
Atlanta police talk about rescue
What they're saying:
Several police officers also spoke on Wednesday about the rescue of the two young sisters from the trailer on.
RAW: Atlanta PD talk about girls in trailer
Atlanta police officers spoke during an interview on Wednesday about discovering the young sisters who were allegedly kidnapped in a trailer with a woman. The is the full interview.