From wire, staff reports



Tammy Renee Silas, the Ardmore woman accused of kidnapping a newborn infant in Nashville just over a month ago, has reportedly stopped eating.

Her attorney, Isaiah Gant, an appointed public defender, said Silas is being denied her medications and has attempted suicide by cutting her wrists while being held in the Robertson County, Tenn., jail, The Tennessean reported Tuesday.

Silas, 39, waived her right to a preliminary and detention hearing in federal court Monday.

Silas was arrested Oct. 2 in Ardmore and charged on federal kidnapping warrants in connection with the Sept. 29 abduction of 4-day-old Yahir Anthony Carillo-Gurrolla in Nashville.

Investigators say that Silas, during the course of the abduction, stabbed the infant’s mother, Maria Gurrolla, 30, nine times.

Silas, whom police believe posed as an immigration agent to gain access to Gurrolla’s home, has not been charged with the attack on Gurrolla. She has also not been charged in Tennessee state court.

An Ardmore Police spokeswoman said when federal agents arrested Silas that local police files contain no arrest record for Silas.

According to a complaint filed by the FBI in U.S. District Court, Middle Tennessee District in Nashville, agents retraced Gurrolla’s steps the morning of the abduction. She first visited the WIC (Women Infants Children) office in South Nashville and then went to a nearby Walmart store on Nolensville Road. After returning home she lay down to take a nap and heard a knock on her door. There, she encountered Silas, posing as an immigration agent.

Investigators reviewed Walmart parking lot surveillance tapes, which captured the image of a Kia Spectra following Gurrolla’s car out of the parking lot. Authorities traced the license plate to the Hertz car rental agency at Nashville International Airport and learned that Silas had rented the car and provided the agency her cell phone number. They obtained her credit card information and were able to track her whereabouts the morning of the abduction through gas purchases and phone calls she made near Gurrolla’s home.

Agents obtained Silas’ address from her phone records. They set up surveillance of Silas’ residence at 29920 State Line Road in Limestone County, just outside Ardmore.

Gurrolla and the baby’s father, Jose Carillo, were reunited with their baby Oct. 6.

Gurrolla temporarily lost custody of Yahir and his three siblings after the baby was found safe while authorities investigated an allegation that a family member had tried to sell the baby. Later, the parents were cleared of any wrongdoing.

After an Oct. 7 court appearance in Tennessee, Silas was ordered to remain in federal custody.