“Mom Influencer" Who Accused Latino Couple of Trying to Kidnap Her Kids Convicted

Authorities announced this week that “mom influencer” Kathleen Sorensen, 31, has been convicted of making a false report or a crime. Sorensen went viral in 2020 after posting a video on social media claiming a Latino couple tried to abduct her kids.In a press release on April 27 by Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office, Sorensen was taken into custody after the jury returned with a guilty verdict.  A sentencing date has not been set. In the meantime, her bail was set at $100,000. 

According to People, On Dec. 7, 2020, Sorensen told police a Petaluma couple attempted to kidnap her two young children at a Michael’s craft store. About a week later, Sorensen outlined the allegations in two Instagram videos that had over 4 million views prior to being deleted. NBC News reports Sorensen alleged that she was followed by a man and a woman while shopping with her children, claiming that they commented about her kids before attempting to approach them in the parking lot. She also claimed that the man tried to reach into her stroller before she screamed for help. Sorensen told KTVU, “They didn't look necessarily clean-cut."

During a second interview with authorities after her TV appearance, Sorenson identified the suspects as a couple seen in a store surveillance video. The couple denied the allegations, and the kidnapping investigation was closed after the department determined Sorensen's report was false. The Agrus-Courier reports the couple identified themselves later that month in a press conference as Sadie and Eddie Martinez. They were Christmas shopping at Michael’s. 

The jury reviewed the evidence and surveillance footage and found it to be very different than how the case was portrayed outside of the courtroom. Sorensen faces a maximum sentence of 6 months in jail, according to the prosecutor's office.