Kidnapper's mother, children beg judge for mercy

MADISON, Wis. - The mother and children of a Colorado woman who took her newborn nephew from a Wisconsin home and left him outside an Iowa gas station in freezing temperatures are asking a federal judge to have mercy on her.

U.S. District Judge James Peterson is set to sentence Kristen Smith on a kidnapping charge on Monday. Smith faces 25 years to life in prison.

Smith's mother sent a letter to the judge saying there's confusion about whether the baby's father allowed Smith to take the baby and a lengthy sentence would keep Smith away from her children. Smith's son wrote a letter telling the judge saying he feels like a boy without a soul when his mother isn't around.

Police found the newborn alive after 29 hours in the cold.