An Indiana mother who recently faced a terrifying ordeal is now experiencing the kindness of strangers. Sabriya Miles, from Evansville, Indiana, had her car repossessed with her 7-day-old baby girl still inside, sparking a wave of support from the community.
Earlier this month, Miles left her newborn in the car seat while she quickly ran her 4-year-old son into daycare.
During that brief moment, a repo man repossessed the vehicle with the infant still inside. Local lawyer Tanisha Carothers, who was moved by Miles’ story, described the incident as a “bootleg repossession,” where the man “jumped in the car” and sped off with the newborn in the back seat.
Miles initially believed her car had been stolen and her child kidnapped.
“I couldn’t talk. I was just too frustrated, and I was crying,” she told 14 News. “I carried my baby for nine months and now I lost her?”
Fortunately, the repo man drove only a few miles before calling the police to retrieve the infant. Miles and her baby were reunited soon after, and no charges are expected following the incident.
However, Miles was not reunited with her vehicle, which contained her children’s car seats and her cell phone. She also claimed she had no prior warning that her car was in danger of being repossessed.
Upon hearing Miles’ story, Carothers took action.
“After the news aired, many people ridiculed her on social media for making the mistake of leaving her newborn in the running car,” Carothers wrote on a GoFundMe page set up for Miles. “Instead, I want to focus on highlighting the need for humanity and empathy.”
Carothers explained that Miles “doesn’t have adequate support so she had to juggle her toddler and infant by herself,” reminding others that “we have all made mistakes and had to learn tough lessons” and should “support her through it.”
The fundraiser aimed to help Miles purchase a “reliable vehicle to transport children and find employment,” as well as replace the car seats and other items inside the repossessed vehicle.
The campaign quickly surpassed its $6,000 goal, raising around $8,500 at the time of publishing.
“We have exceeded our goal and we are so excited about it! We will begin car searching for this young mom and help her get back on track!” Carothers shared in an update. She encouraged supporters to stay tuned for more information “once she has a new set of wheels.”
Miles, who has been a mother since she was 15, expressed her gratitude and determination.
“I’ve been a mom since I was 15 years old, and this is the first time that anything like this has ever happened to me. I won’t let it happen again,” she told 14 News.
