Baby Gabriel Johnson Update: "Person of Interest" Tammi Smith Arrested for Custodial Interference

by Carlin DeGuerin Miller

PHOENIX (CBS/AP) Tammi Smith, a 'person of interest' in the disappearance of baby Gabriel Johnson, has been arrested at her Scottsdale, Ariz. home Tuesday.

Tempe police said Smith will be charged with custodial interference, conspiracy to commit custodial interference and forgery. The release did not elaborate on what the charges were based on.

Tammi and her husband Jack tried to adopt Gabriel but his biological father, Logan McQueary, refused to give up his parental rights. McQueary says that the Smiths continuously pushed him to surrender the child but he refused, according to CBS affiliate KPHO.

Since the beginning, police have said Tammi Smith was not completely forthcoming in her interviews with officers.

As late as last week Tammi Smith was saying she had nothing to do with Gabriel's disappearance, inviting the police to search her computer saying she had "nothing to hide."

Upon hearing of the arrest, McQueary said it was a long time coming. He and his family are currently on a road trip to retrace Johnson's steps in an effort to find baby Gabriel.

The 8-month-old disappeared shortly before his mother, Elizabeth Johnson, told McQueary she killed the child, and told police she gave him away to strangers during a Texas road trip.

Gabriel was last seen Dec. 26, 2009. Elizabeth Johnson, 23, was picked up by police Dec. 30 in Miami. She had left her car in San Antonio and eventually told police she gave her baby to strangers there.