Travaughn Andre Gaines, a 45-year-old man, was apprehended on charges related to the alleged kidnapping incident that involved the theft of a vehicle containing two young children in Plantation. The event unfolded earlier this month outside One Price Dry Cleaning on Broward Boulevard, as NBC Miami reports.
Gaines now faces two counts of kidnapping for confining children under the age of 13 without parental consent. Additionally, he is charged with one count each of grand theft auto and grand theft. His bail has been set, totaling $60,000 for these charges, according to a post shared by the Broward Florida Mugshots.
The report from NBC Miami details that the children's mother was transferring clothing between the cleaners and her car when the vehicle, with her two daughters — a 10-year-old and a 7-month-old — was taken. Surveillance footage caught the theft, showing the older sister "is contemplating jumping from the moving car, but ultimately decides to remain inside with her 7-month-old sister," caught in a moment of a terrifying decision. The report further notes that the children were found safe shortly after, thanks to a hotel employee's swift action to contact the police.
Authorities used surveillance video from a nearby McDonald's to place Gaines at the location subsequent to the car theft. Employees at the fast-food restaurant described the man as "sweating, panting, and appeared to be nervous," while requesting a cab. The damning evidence continued with the use of Gaines' own words, captured on video: "Travaughn Gaines," was the name he first gave before attempting to change it, as per the arrest report, as reported by NBC Miami.
Additional charges arose after the subsequent use of the mother's stolen debit card was used to purchase marijuana products and services at the Seminole Classic Casino. Charging Gaines was facilitated as surveillance footage from both places, combined with facial recognition software, confirmed his identity as the suspect, sealing the connection between the crime and the individual apprehended. He remains detained until his day in court, with no attorney information available at the time of reporting.
