A 25-year-old mother has accused her best friend of 15 years of "digitally kidnapping" her infant daughter by stealing photos and falsely claiming the child as her own. Marissa Layne, a stay-at-home mother of two, reported that her friend, referred to as "Lucy," used images of Layne's baby to create a fabricated life story, posing as the mother to strangers, colleagues, and employers.
Layne discovered the alleged deception in March when a woman contacted her, revealing that her friend was presenting the baby as her own. The friend reportedly texted intimate photos of the infant to unknown individuals and constructed a false narrative of her own birth story. This alleged betrayal has caused Layne significant emotional distress, leading to anxiety and sleep disturbances. She described the experience as a profound violation that has shaken her sense of safety.
Digital kidnapping, a form of cyberstalking, involves the theft and misuse of a minor's images from social media. According to 2026 data, approximately 7.5 million people are affected by such online crimes annually, with a significant portion of victims targeted by individuals they know. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reported receiving over 21 million reports in 2025 concerning virtual crimes against children, including the misuse of digital images.
This incident echoes previous cases of digital kidnapping. In 2013, a mother caught someone posing as the parent of her son on Facebook. Three years later, a couple accused a woman of digitally kidnapping their twin daughters after she displayed their photos on her website and in her home. In June 2021, another mother stated she would no longer share her children's images online after discovering that fraudsters had stolen dozens of pictures to create new identities for them.
Layne recounted that her friend, whom she had known since childhood, was deeply involved in her family's life, often caring for her infant daughter and taking numerous photos. Initially, Layne defended her friend's behavior, even when family members expressed concern. However, upon receiving the whistleblower's message, Layne confronted her friend, who denied the accusations and urged Layne to block the informant. Instead, Layne continued to investigate.
The friend allegedly fabricated details about experiencing an epidural-free birth, which Layne contrasted with her own difficult labor and delivery. Layne reported the incident to her local sheriff's department, which reportedly visited the friend's residence and compelled her to remove all images and posts of the infant. Layne opted not to press charges but has since ended all contact with her former friend.
Layne expressed regret for not recognizing her friend's concerning behavior sooner and for mistakenly believing that a private Facebook profile would ensure her children's online safety. Psychotherapists note that such betrayals can inflict deep psychological wounds on both parents and children, leading to anxiety and hyper-vigilance, permanently altering a family's sense of security when sharing personal moments online.