A family visiting Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax, Virginia, experienced a moment of terror when they saw their toddler carried away by a stranger. The unidentified 3-year-old little girl reportedly wandered out of the mall’s play area on July 18, 2025. Less than 30 seconds later, surveillance video caught Andres Caceres Jaldin, 26, picking her up. Thankfully, her mother confronted Caceres Jaldin and was able to retrieve her daughter. When police caught up with the alleged abductor, he said he was trying to help the parents. Investigators didn’t buy his story and he’s now facing charges.
According to News4, the little girl and a sibling were in the play area when she wandered off. The sibling didn’t realize she was gone. Caceres Jaldin allegedly carried the toddler into a store where her mother happened to be shopping. He handed the baby over following a confrontation and exited the mall.
“Fair Oaks Mall is like any other mall, and the perpetrator, when he picked her up, he could have gone in four different directions. If he didn’t go in the store where the mom was, so she saw him, God knows what would’ve happened,” Chief of Police Kevin Davis told News4.
After reviewing surveillance footage, police identified Caceres Jaldin as the suspect. On the way to the hotel where he lived, police found out he’d allegedly stolen a car that morning. When police arrived at the hotel, they arrested him without incident. He reportedly told investigators he was trying to reunite the child with her parents.
Davis urged parents to have difficult conversations with their children so they can protect themselves. “’No’ is both a complete sentence and an answer. Our children need to be able to say loudly and clearly just the simple term ‘No,’” he said, per News4.
Caceres Jaldin reportedly has a violent history that includes arrests related to assaulting members of his family. During a past criminal proceeding, doctors administered a psychiatric examination and diagnosed him with schizophrenia, News4 reported. His family ultimately dropped all charges.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin posted about Caceres Jaldin’s criminal record in a scathing X message.
“A repeat offender was let out of jail in Fairfax County three days before he was caught on camera attempting to abduct a 3-year-old little girl in broad daylight. There is a shocking and unforgivable pattern in Fairfax County of releasing criminals back onto Virginia’s streets instead of keeping them behind bars. The Commonwealth’s Attorney cares more about protecting criminals than about keeping children safe,” he wrote. “I am asking Attorney General @JasonMiyaresVA to open a full investigation of the repeated failures of the Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney to protect the citizens he was elected to serve. Fairfax County parents should be horrified.”
Prosecutors charged Caceres Jaldin with abduction of a minor and grand larceny auto theft. He is being held without bond.
