Detectives solve 1995 hospital baby snatch, finding Lydia Owens and arresting Susan Brooke, who faked pregnancy to save her marriage.
Detectives looked for a dark-haired woman they thought was in her late thirties. Alan Dylan Owen and Huw Vevar followed tips and found Susan Brooke at a Rhyl address. Huw spoke about it on “Troseddau Cymru.”
Huw said they knew it was her right away. She tried to shut the door on them, but he stopped the door with his foot. They chased her down the corridor.
The officers found baby Lydia safe. Susan Brooke, 39, had lied a lot and was a grandmother and mother of three. She had married Phillip a year before, who wanted twins, but they were never coming.
Susan couldn’t be pregnant because she had been sterilized years ago. She grabbed a bag and went to the hospital, where she found Christine Owens, a mother. Susan then asked to see Lydia.
Afterward, Susan went to the bathroom and left. The alarm sounded at 8 p.m., and police searched the hospital hard, using dogs and forensic teams. A nurse said the hospital felt the crime deeply.
Siân Lloyd covered the story while young and said the press helped spread news quickly. Dylan Rhys Jones spoke about crime psychology, and Sarah Aubrey said hospitals improved security.
Susan said she regretted taking Lydia and feared her husband would leave. Lydia went back to her parents quickly, while Susan went to a hospital awaiting trial.
Susan was jailed on June 10, 1995. She got two and a half years for abduction and more time for marrying twice, as she was still married to her third husband.
Judge Scott Baker called her a liar, saying she was not mentally ill and was responsible for her cruel actions. He called her actions cruel and wicked.