On March 28, 2019, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Team in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals Service – Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force (USMS-GLRFTF), apprehended Jaela Gaines, 25, of the 1300 block of Melrose Avenue, Waukegan.  

Following an investigation by Waukegan Police Department, Waukegan Detectives determined in December of 2018 Gaines took custody of her biological three-month-old daughter.  Following an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) investigation, Gaines was ordered to relinquish custody of her daughter to DCFS, but Gaines refused, and fled.  Waukegan Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Gaines for Child Abduction ($200,000.00 bond).

In February of 2019, Waukegan Police requested assistance from the Lake County Sheriff’s Warrants Team.  Following a complex apprehension effort, information was developed indicating Gaines was at a motel in the 0-100 block of Green Bay Road, Waukegan.  

On March 28, 2019, members of the Sheriff’s Warrants Team observed Gaines enter a motel room.  Members of the Warrants Team knocked on the door, but Gaines refused to answer.  Entry was forced into the motel room, and Gaines was located in the bathroom holding the six-month-old baby.  Gaines was successfully taken into custody and turned over to Waukegan Detectives.  The six-month-old child was turned over to DCFS.

Gaines remains held in the Lake County Jail on $200,000.00 bail.  She is next due in court on April 25, 2019, at 1:30PM in courtroom T110.

Sheriff Idleburg reminds the public all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.