Authorities investigating similarities in North Naples, Bonita Springs suspicious woman cases

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla.- Investigators have been looking into reports of a woman trying to lure a child from a North Naples library and a suspicious person at a Bonita Springs park this week.

After Collier County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) reviewed surveillance video at the library in North Naples on Orange Blossom, detectives have determined the woman involved in the incident had no intention of harming or abducting the child.

On Tuesday, a mother told CCSO she was with her 1-year-old daughter at the library when she noticed a stranger approach the girl. She told authorities that at first, the woman spoke Spanish to the child, then English, telling the little girl to take her hand and that it was time to go.

Detectives say the video shows the woman browsing the library before the encounter with the child. When the woman approached the little girl, the child was walking in the direction of the door. After the brief encounter with the girl, the woman walked at a normal pace and waved as she left. Detectives believe the mother’s suspicious was the result of a language barrier.

After WINK News reported on this incident, another mom came forward to tell us she fears the same person may have tried to take her 10-year-old daughter from a Bonita Springs recreation center on Wednesday.

“The woman was standing directly over her with a cell phone camera taking pictures,” she said.

The mother wanted to remain anonymous to protect her daughter’s identity. She tells WINK News the woman take off in a red minivan, which was parked next to the Bonita Springs library.

Authorities have not confirmed that the cases are related, but say they are looking at the similarities.

In both cases, witnesses gave similar descriptions of the woman involved.

Parents have been on edge after the reports of a suspicious woman approaching young children first emerged.

Some parents told WINK News, the similarities in the two cases were just too eerie.

“Just continue to be diligent because you never know where the danger lies,” Richard Cacioppe said.

“The library has always been kind of a haven for us moms with our little ones and to hear that is just awful,” Kimberly Muyambo said.

In both cases, witnesses said the suspect appeared to be a slender Hispanic woman in her thirties. She was also wearing sunglasses and had dark brown hair. In the Bonita Springs incident, the woman was seen leaving in a red minivan.

CCSO tells WINK News the Naples mother did the right thing by reporting the incident to law enforcement.

Trust WINK News to bring you any new details in the Bonita Springs investigation.