6-day-old Baby Missing From Beloit Found In Iowa

Kayden J. Powell

West Branch Police Chief finds baby in a duffle bag while searching area near Iowa gas station.

By H. Nelson Goodson

February 6, 2014

Town of Beloit, WI - On Friday, police in Beloit confirmed that 6-day-old Kayden J. Powell, described as an African-American who was reported missing at 4:34 a.m. on Thursday from Rock County was found safe in Iowa. City of West Branch Police Chief Mike Horihan in Iowa was canvassing an area where a gas station is located just off on I-80 and around 10:15 a.m. found Kaden J. Powell in a duffel bag. He was reported alive, in condition and police are working to reunite the baby with his Wisconsin family.

His mother, Brianna Marshall, 18, called police on Thursday morning and said her son had disappeared from her home located at the 800 block of East Homeland Court.

Police found no forced entry to the home, but as of late afternoon on Thursday, Kayden had not been located.

Police questioned, Kristin Smith as a person of interest about the missing baby, but she is cooperating with authorities. Smith who recently claimed that Brianna was her half sister on her father's side left the home before Kayden went missing. 

She was heading back to Colorado, when police reached her by cellphone in County Cedar, Iowa and was taken into custody at 5:30 a.m. by West Branch police for an open Texas warrant for fraud. Police in Iowa found baby clothing in the vehicle, but no sign of Kayden.

Kayden's father, Bruce Powell, 23, and Brianna's parents were also questioned about the missing baby.

Beloit Police Chief Steven J. Kopp says, Alassisting with the investigation were the City of Beloit Police Department, the Rock County Sheriff's Department, Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation, West Branch Police Department and the F.B.I..