Ex-NFL star Joe Montana and wife save grandchild for attempted kidnapping in Malibu home
A former NFL star and his wife confronted a woman who attempted to kidnap their nine-month-old grandchild in their Malibu home over the weekend.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said former quarterback Joe Montana told deputies that his grandchild was sleeping in a playpen on Saturday when an unknown woman entered the home and grabbed the child.
Mr Montana and his wife, Jennifer, confronted the woman, who authorities later identified as Sodsai Dalzell, and tried to “e-escalate the situation" and asked her to give back their grandchild.
After a tussle, law enforcement officials say Jennifer Montana removed the child from Dalzell’s arms.
"Thank you to everyone who has reached out,” the former San Francisco 49ers star tweeted.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out. Scary situation, but thankful that everybody is doing well. We appreciate respect for our privacy at this time.
— Joseph Montana (@JoeMontana)
"Scary situation, but thankful that everybody is doing well. We appreciate respect for our privacy at this time."
The sheriff’s office says that Dalzell fled the home but was later arrested.
She faces kidnapping and burglary charges.
The sheriff’s office declined to release further information, citing that the case was still ongoing.
Montana, 64, retired after the 1994 season, playing 13 years of his 15-year career with the San Francisco 49ers, who won four Super Bowls with him as starting quarterback.
