Katie Sorensen, the infamous parenting influencer, has been charged with two misdemeanors after giving false kidnapping claims to police by claiming in an Instagram video how her children were almost taken at Michael’s craft store.
Her next court date will be May 13.
In December, Sorensen’s claims of “escaping” her kidnappers in Northern California went viral after she posted the video confessional to her Instagram account, @motherhoodessentials.
She has since changed her handle to @motherhoodessentials_ and is now private.
In two clips, Sorensen alleged to her followers how she had been the victim of an “attempted kidnap” a week prior.
She claimed a couple had followed her around the store and made comments about her children. She also said that the man had even lunged at her stroller.
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But after an investigation and identifying the couple from the store, Petaluma police said they found no evidence of a crime. They instead found evidence that supported the couple’s version of events.
The couple Sorensen reported, Sadie Vega-Martinez and Eddie Martinez, came forward and accused Sorensen of racial profiling them because they are Latino. They also informed a local newspaper last week how they were relieved to hear of the charges.
“We’re very happy with the news,” Sadie told the Petaluma Argus-Courier. “It’s a nice step toward justice. It gives you hope.”
Last winter, Vega-Martinez’s daughter, Esaia Gonzalez, shared how her mom and stepdad have five children between them and two grandchildren. Her stepdad works in the community as a UPS driver.
Gonzales said when she heard of the allegations against her parents, she was horrified — she also adds how they were shopping and probably speaking about their own grandchildren, not Sorensen’s kids, in the store.
“This isn’t the first racist injustice to occur in Petaluma by a long shot, but we are definitely grateful that in this case the truth was rightfully pursued,” she said.
Many local activist organizations rallied the community to support the couple and force Sorensen to be held accountable for her actions.
Vega-Martinez has since become an activist and was appointed by the town’s mayor to be a part of an advisory committee on policing and race relations.