3-Month-Old baby boy safely recovered after abduction east of Plymouth; woman charged

Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at 1:00 PM

By Kathy Bottorff

A 3-month-old baby boy is safe at home with his parents after being abducted from a residence east of Plymouth on Tuesday morning in a case that prompted a rapid, multi-agency response spanning from Marshall County to the Chicago suburbs.

Marshall County Sheriff's Department Detective Les McFarland held a news conference Wednesday morning, praising the swift cooperation of numerous law enforcement agencies for the safe recovery of the infant.

At approximately 11:40 a.m. Tuesday, July 7th, the Marshall County Central Dispatch Center received a 911 call reporting a child abduction on Del Lo Me Lane, just east of Plymouth. Law enforcement immediately began piecing together the suspect's path of travel using camera footage in the Del Lo Me Lane area, which helped identify a blue 2017 Cadillac fleeing the scene.

In a notable development, a Flock automated license plate reader camera in the Merrillville area detected the vehicle approximately 50 minutes later. Merrillville Police Department reported that Central Dispatch was notified around 12:30 p.m. that a vehicle associated with the abduction had been flagged by the Flock system.

Merrillville Police and U.S. Marshals located the suspect's empty vehicle in the Save-A-Lot parking lot on Broadway in Merrillville shortly after 2:00 p.m. The suspect was apprehended as she exited the grocery store.

The suspect has been identified as Bobbi Jo Novak, 45, of Gary. She is currently being held in the Marshall County Jail without bond on charges of kidnapping and criminal confinement, both Level 5 felonies.

Authorities have not disclosed how Novak gained entry to the home or whether any relationship exists between her and the baby's family. In an effort to protect the integrity of the investigation and future court proceedings, no additional details are being released at this time.

The 3-month-old boy was evaluated at a hospital, found to be unharmed, and reunited with his mother and father on Tuesday afternoon.

As with all arrests, charges are allegations. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.