Long Beach Woman Pleads for Return of Daughter, 12

A Long Beach woman pleaded Thursday for the return of her 12-year-old daughter, who was kidnaped by two men outside her home this week.

Lakeshia Clements was reportedly kidnaped in her apartment courtyard in west Long Beach shortly after midnight Tuesday. A neighbor saw two men chasing the young girl; one then hit her and carried her away, police said. She had apparently been gagged, police said. At the time, the neighbor thought that “they were just fooling around” and did not call police, said Detective John Boston.

When the girl’s mother, Linda Donaldson, realized that the girl was missing, she called police. “I just want my baby back,” Donaldson said.

Although neighborhood teen-agers told police that the youngster sometimes sneaked out in the evenings without her parents’ knowledge, investigators said they believe that the girl was kidnaped.

Lakeshia is black, 5-foot-6, weighs about 98 pounds, has black hair, brown eyes and appears 15 or 16 years old, according to family members. Long Beach police ask anyone with information to call (310) 590-7244.