A shocking incident took place at a day care centre in Oklahoma, where a 49-year-old lawyer allegedly tried to take a 2-year-old girl who was not her child. The woman, Tracy Zahl, later told police that she was “sent by God to be with the children.” She has now been arrested and charged with attempted kidnapping.
How the Incident Happened
The incident happened on July 23, 2025, at the Westminster Presbyterian Church Child Care Center. According to police reports, Zahl walked into the day care through an unlocked door and went downstairs to a classroom. There, she approached a 2-year-old girl and told her to follow her outside.
Luckily, a teacher quickly noticed something was wrong and pulled the child away from Zahl. The teacher told her to leave and immediately informed the day care director about the situation.
Strange Behaviour After Being Caught
Even after being told to leave, Zahl continued to walk around inside the church. She saw a group of kids walking in a line and joined them, saying she was “going with them.” One of the teachers assumed she was a volunteer and allowed her to follow the children into a classroom.
Inside the classroom, Zahl sat at a table with several kids. Another staff member then confronted her. When asked what she was doing, Zahl said she had been “sent by God to be with the children.” Once again, she was asked to leave the premises.
How Police Caught Her
After she finally left, a staff member managed to write down part of her car’s license plate number. This information was shared with the police. Using license plate tracking technology, officers found her at her home, which was less than a mile from the day care.
Zahl admitted to police that she made a mistake and had no reason to be at the day care. She also said she had no child or grandchild enrolled there.
She was arrested and taken to the Oklahoma County Jail. She is being held on a $30,000 bond. As of now, she does not have a lawyer listed in court documents.
A Troubled Past
This is not the first time Tracy Zahl has had trouble with the law. In the past, the Oklahoma Bar Association had disciplined her for forging a prescription. In 2021, she was also arrested for allegedly threatening to kill a co-worker.
Community Concerns
Parents and local residents are shocked and concerned about how easily Zahl entered the day care. The church is now reviewing its safety measures to make sure children are protected from such incidents in the future.
Police have praised the quick actions of the day care staff, who stopped Zahl before any harm could be done. The teachers’ alertness and calm handling of the situation likely prevented a much worse outcome.
This troubling case highlights the importance of strict security in places that care for children. The quick thinking of day care staff helped stop a potential kidnapping, and the police responded swiftly. Authorities are still investigating the case, and parents are being extra cautious, hoping such a scary event never happens again.
