Woman pleads guilty to abducting grandchild from Aurora home

A woman has pleaded guilty to abducting her grandchild in a case where the child’s father and uncle are accused of taking the boy from a house in Aurora.

Lisa Bearden, 59, of Pelham, Alabama, was sentenced to 90 days in jail and two years of probation, according to DuPage County court records. She pleaded guilty Thursday to felony child abduction — parent without custody.

Two counts of home invasion were dropped.

Authorities say that around 10:15 p.m. July 29, 2024, brothers Christopher and Joshua Bearden, both of Sacramento County, California, pushed their way into the house where the 8-year-old boy was with his mother. They attacked the boy’s mother and the man who owned the home, according to charges against them.

Authorities said Christopher Bearden, the boy’s uncle, carried the child out, as he kicked and screamed, to a waiting vehicle, driven by Lisa Bearden.

Authorities said Lisa Bearden drove to a hotel in Aurora, and the sons then drove off. Police stopped that vehicle in southwestern Indiana several hours later, arrested the men and recovered the boy.

Lisa Bearden was arrested at a hotel. The Kane County state’s attorney charged her with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in a vehicle and illegal possession of guns and ammunition without an Illinois Firearm Owner’s Identification card. Police reported finding a handgun, a shotgun and a semiautomatic rifle in her vehicle.

Her next court date in that case is Jan. 29.

Christopher Bearden is due back in DuPage court Jan. 26, and Joshua Bearden’s next date is Jan. 27. Both are being held in jail pretrial.