“Screams, screams, crying” | Mother of kidnapped child says suspect hit her with a screwdriver and then ran away

SAN ANTONIO. A local mother is grateful for the return of her 3-year-old son after he was allegedly kidnapped Thursday afternoon from their apartment on the northeast side.

In an exclusive interview with KENS 5, Danielle Bernal said two neighbors were able to save her child from a suspect as she tried to push him over the fence to escape.

Police identified the suspect as MaiRaj Rankin, a 19-year-old member of the University of the Incarnate Word athletics team.

Rankin hid in a random apartment before being taken into custody. She is charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Prior to the chaos, Bernal said her son Michael was playing outside with a friend in the backyard. At one point, he ran to the front door, where Bernal said Rankin was standing.

Bernal grabbed the boy and closed the door, but he ran out into the backyard. Bernal said that the suspect was also there and grabbed him, after which she began to repeat the phrase “only one, only one.”

The mother tried to get her son back. When two women fought over a small boy, Bernal said the woman had poked her hand with a screwdriver. She lost her grip and Rankin ran away with her son.

“I started screaming, screaming, crying,” Bernal said.

Two neighbors were able to catch up with the suspect as she tried to push Michael over the fence.

“I just hugged [Michael] and we went inside, locked the door, and that was until the police arrived,” Bernal said.

When the police showed up, they found Rankin hiding in another apartment. The meeting was filmed on camera in the living room of the tenant.

“My wife says: “What are you doing here? This is not your apartment! Leave!” She (Rankin) then said, “Shh!”

The tenant said that Rankin stole the crosses from their kitchen along with the scissors before hiding in the closet. His wife, niece and mother-in-law called 911 before running outside.

Bernal plans to take action against the suspected teenager and send her son for counseling as she fears that what happened might affect him later.

For now, she is grateful that her son is safe at home.

“Could be worse. It could have been much worse,” Bernal said.