LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A self-proclaimed nun who took a child to out of the country without the parents' permission was arrested again Thursday afternoon on charges of tampering with a witness, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators told WFTV that Laura Caballero told a witness in the case to change her story.
Caballero bonded out of jail Thursday evening. As WFTV was confronting her outside the Lake County jail, the man who came to pick her up rammed several members of the media with his truck, injuring one of WFTV's photographers. The injured photographer received stitches to close a wound and underwent x-rays. He is expected to fully recover.
Caballero bonded out of this jail without a word to say to WFTV.
Andrew Hendrick, the man who hit the photographer, was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crash with injuries.
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At approximately 11:40am, detectives arrested 53-year-old Laura Caballero, who goes by the name Sister Mary, at the St. Filumena Church located at 1008 South Eustis Street in Eustis (see map). It's not a Roman Catholic Church affiliated with the Orlando Diocese or the Vatican, nor are its clergy and nuns. Investigators executed a search warrant at the church, but it is not known what was collected.
Caballero is now being charged with tampering with a witness, a second-degree felony. Detectives recently received information that she contacted a witness in the case involving the child, 2-year-old Maria Lopez, in an attempt to alter that witness' testimony.
The witness, identified as Lidia Barrera, provided a statement to detectives in January that she had notarized the Power of Attorney that Caballero eventually used to take Maria to Argentina. Barrera stated she notarized the document (read) in December 2007, without anyone signing it in her presence.
Barrera then reported to detectives earlier this month that Caballero had recently contacted her regarding her testimony. Detectives developed probable cause to obtain a warrant, charging Caballero with the crime.
Meanwhile, two days earlier, Laura Maria Caballero pled not guilty in the false-imprisonment case. She didn't appear in court; her attorney entered the plea on her behalf during an arraignment stemming from charges of false imprisonment and interfering with child custody.
According to investigators, Jose Ochoa-Avalos and Adai Lopez Vazquez allowed Laura Maria Caballero to take their little girl to deliver to another relative while they dealt with a family emergency. Instead, the Lake County Sheriff's Office says she took 2-year-old Maria Lopez to Argentina and refused to give her back to her parents.
Herrell said Caballero was not charged with kidnapping because she didn't forcibly take the child from her family. The girl has since reunited with her parents and at least two other families have come forward; investigators said their stories match up to the charges Caballero faced on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, WFTV photographer Lou Bonnell was injured when the truck hit him and he fell to the ground. Tavares police found the driver, Andrew Hendrick, arrested him and charged him with leaving the scene of a crash with injuries.
Bonnell has some bumps and bruises but he's expected to be okay.
Previous Stories: February 16, 2010: Nun Accused Of Taking Toddler Enters Not Guilty Plea February 13, 2010: Investigators Search Church Run By Nun Who Took Child February 5, 2010: More Parents Claim Nun Tried To Take Their Kids February 3, 2010: Nun Accused Of Taking Child Bonds Out Of Jail February 3, 2010: Child Taken By Nun Reunited With Parents