INDIANAPOLIS — The mother accused in the abduction of her 9-year-old daughter that prompted an Amber Alert took the child while she was at school and shoved a principal when he tried to stop her, a court document alleges.
Monica M. Burdine, 34, but didn't have custody rights over the child when she took the girl, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Indianapolis police found Burdine and her daughter barricaded inside a home on the city's west side late Sept. 1 after an hours-long search. Police later separated the pair and placed Burdine under arrest, at which point the Amber Alert was canceled.
It all started about 8 a.m. that day when Burdine showed up at the girl's school demanding to take her.
School employees tried explaining to Burdine that she couldn't take the girl because of a court order. At one point, the school principal went to retrieve a copy of the court order and Burdine left his office unannounced, then retrieved her daughter.
The principal then intervened, and Burdine "became very hostile, screaming and yelling loud profanities causing a disruption inside of the school hallway," the affidavit alleges.
The document continues, "(The principal) explained many times that he felt threatened. (He) stated he believed that at any moment Ms. Budine was going to hit him due to her aggressive posture."
It was then she shoved her elbow and forearm into the principal's chest.
The principal told police that at several points during the interaction, Burdine yelled "Don't touch me (expletive), get out of my face, this is a civil case!" according to the affidavit.
Burdine then left the building and put the child in her car. Meanwhile, the principal tried to block the car in with cones, but she drove off too quickly for him to act unless he put himself in danger.
Police also learned that Burdine had made several communications with school officials regarding her daughter in the days leading up to the abduction, the affidavit alleges.
Due to the court order and the events that happened at the school, a detective contacted Indiana State Police to request an Amber Alert. The alert was issued shortly before 11:45 a.m.
Police later found Burdine by tracking her cell phone. She was then taken into custody.
Burdine is charged with two felony counts of kidnapping and one misdemeanor count each of battery resulting in bodily injury, interference with custody and disorderly conduct.
She's scheduled to appear before a jury on Nov. 16 at Marion Superior Court.
-
Indiana Governor Mike Braun reflects on first year, outlines priorities for 2026
Indiana Governor Mike Braun is wrapping up his first year in office. WRTV sat down with him to discuss what his administration accomplished in 2025 — and his priorities for the year ahead.
How Duke Energy crews keep the power on during extreme cold in Hendricks County
With extreme cold settling into central Indiana, Duke Energy is reminding customers to prepare for potential power outages and to know where to turn if they need help staying warm.
Indiana Crime Guns Task Force seizes hundreds of illegal guns, narcotics in 2025
This year, the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force says they've made significant progress in their goal of reducing violent crime, seizing hundreds of illegal guns and narcotics across the state
How authentic German culture made Carmel's Christkindmarkt #1 yet again
For the fifth time in its eight-year history, the Christkindlmarkt was named by USA Today as the top Holiday Market in the United States.
