LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Shelby County mother who had been missing after authorities said she failed to provide medical care for her infant was located and arrested in Louisville on Tuesday.
Shatessa Manica, 36, was taken into custody by Louisville Metro Police on outstanding warrants. Shelbyville Police Chief Bruce Gentry confirmed that Manica was wanted on five warrants, including charges of possession of methamphetamine, abuse or neglect of a child, and identity theft.
The case gained public attention when Shelbyville police appealed for assistance in locating Manica and her baby, Serenity. The alert, issued on Monday, raised concerns that Manica and her child may have been with a man named Antonio Turner, who also has an active arrest warrant. Turner, who authorities believe may go by the alias “Dynamite” in Louisville, was connected to the case but remains at large.
According to Gentry, media coverage of the case played a crucial role in Manica reaching out to family members. As a result, Serenity was safely placed into their custody. The child is now under the care of the state.
Manica’s arrest has brought a sense of relief to the Shelbyville community, where authorities had expressed concern for the well-being of both mother and child. Further investigations are underway to address the ongoing criminal charges linked to Manica and Turner.
