In a bizarre incident in Arizona, a 23-year-old woman allegedly abducted a toddler from the child’s own home, claiming the two-year-old was her “long-lost child.” According to police reports, the woman, who had been staying with the family, insisted that the girl was her biological daughter and had been “abducted from the hospital” at birth.

During a post-arrest interview with Avondale Police detectives, Marina Noriega, 23, reportedly acknowledged her error, stating, “My mistake,” after being presented with evidence proving that Kehlani Rogers was not her daughter. This information was revealed in an arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime.

Noriega allegedly confessed to the police, saying, “I should not have done that.”

Authorities say the incident occurred on Friday night when Noriega took Kehlani from her parents’ home in Avondale. The woman had been invited to stay with the family temporarily because she had nowhere else to go. According to the affidavit, family members allowed her to stay as she was reportedly in a transient situation, having arrived from California with no local family to contact.

The affidavit further reveals that Noriega allegedly told the family she was dropped off in Arizona and had no support because her boyfriend or father was incarcerated. Family members recalled her making unusual comments about a “baby daddy” and initially claiming she had children before retracting the statement. Additionally, she reportedly mentioned having a “dead baby,” which raised suspicions.

Although the family found Noriega’s comments peculiar, they chose to let her stay, assuming she might have altered personal details for self-protection in the presence of strangers. The parents also noted that Noriega mentioned being involved in a car accident and visiting a hospital, adding to the complexity of her story.

“Based upon Marina’s summary of her life and current circumstances, the victims allowed Marina to spend the night at their residence … which they share with their three children, each under 3 years old, and their adult cousin … who was visiting and occupied the spare room,” the affidavit explains.

The family shared a meal with Noriega and then all went to sleep, with Noriega being on the couch, according to police. They later awoke to find both Noriega and Kehlani gone, the affidavit says.

Authorities were notified about what happened and an Amber Alert was issued on Saturday morning. Surveillance video captured in Maricopa allegedly showed Noriega with Kehlani, pushing her in a black stroller at multiple locations.

“Marina did not have a vehicle or phone to the victim’s knowledge and she made no attempts to contact the family, the police, or return their daughter home,” the affidavit says. “Marina did not have permission to take temporary or permanent custody of the child, nor did she have any custodial rights to any of the children in the household.”

Noriega was eventually caught in Phoenix with Kehlani at a QuikTrip store near 27th Avenue and Thomas Road on Sunday morning, according to police. A moving crew and a gas station security guard allegedly spotted them, blocked in a pickup truck she was driving, and called police. The girl told her parents she was “scared and wanted her mommy and daddy but she was okay,” per the affidavit.

“A post-Miranda interview was conducted with Marina who initially claimed the child was her biological daughter, stating the child was born in Sacramento in September of 2021, (2 years before the child was actually born), and that the child had been abducted from the hospital,” the affidavit alleges. “Marina claimed to have come to Arizona to find family and located her long-lost child ‘coincidentally,’ at a residence near 107th Street.”

Throughout her police interview, Noriega allegedly provided “inconsistent statements and vague details” regarding Kehlani’s birth, the alleged prior abduction from the hospital, and how or where she located the child.

“Marina would not provide verifiable names, addresses, or timelines and admitted a glass pipe located on her person during a search incident to arrest was a pipe she used the day prior to her arrest to smoke methamphetamine, during the time she had control of the child,” the affidavit says.

After being shown evidence that Kehlani was not her daughter, Noriega allegedly “became frustrated” and started cursing while talking about the situation.

“I shouldn’t give a f— about her … it’s not my daughter, so I shouldn’t give a f—,” Noriega told police, according to the affidavit, after being asked if she “loved, cared for, and protected” Kehlani.

“No, I don’t because it’s not my f—ing daughter,” Noriega said, per the affidavit. “If DNA proved otherwise then I would give a f—, but it’s not my daughter.”

During breaks in the interview, Marina was “observed checking her reflection, fixing her hair, and grooming herself,” according to police.

“They asked me to stay,” Noriega allegedly concluded about Kehlani’s parents. “They were helping me … I shouldn’t have took advantage of the situation and done what I did. You’re right, that’s my fault.”

Noriega was booked on one count of custodial interference and ordered held on a $250,000 bond. Footage obtained by Law&Crime shows the woman pacing around during her first court appearance in Maricopa County.

“The defendant is a danger to the community and a flight risk,” a prosecutor said.

“I do agree … that the defendant is a risk to the community,” the judge overseeing Noriega’s case added, while setting her bond. “You are not to return to the scene of the alleged crime. You are not to have any contact with any alleged victim, complainant or witness. You are not to have any contact with any minors, there are no exceptions to that.”