A disturbing attempted child abduction at a Virginia shopping centre was foiled by a mother who spotted a man carrying away her 3-year-old daughter. The suspect, 26-year-old Andres Caceres Jaldin, has a history of violence and had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia, according to court records cited by the New York Post. The incident unfolded on July 18, at the Fair Oaks Shopping Center in Fairfax County. Surveillance footage released by the county sheriff’s office show Jaldin lifting the toddler into his arms and walking away after she strayed from an indoor play area. The girl’s father, who had been watching her, immediately phoned his wife, who was nearby shopping at a JCPenney. She quickly located Jaldin with their daughter on the second floor and confronted him. Jaldin handed over the child without resistance and claimed he was simply trying to help the girl find her parents, according to the criminal complaint. He then fled the mall in a vehicle that had been reported stolen from a nearby auto shop just prior to the incident. Police later tracked the car to a hotel in Chantilly, where Jaldin was arrested. Court documents show Jaldin has a violent past, including several assault charges involving his own family. In 2024, he was charged with assault and battery, malicious wounding, and property damage, with his mother, father and brother listed as victims. Despite being out on bail, he was accused of assaulting his family again. A psychiatric evaluation during the legal proceedings diagnosed him with schizophrenia. All charges related to the family incidents were eventually dropped. Jaldin now faces charges of abduction of a minor and grand larceny. He is being held without bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
