ST. CHARLES, Missouri — A teen mother who told police someone had kidnapped her toddler really gave her son away to a heroin user, police said.
Desiree Ann-Marie Cozzoni, 18, told police she gave the child up because she wanted to live the life of “a normal teenager.”
Cozzoni has been moving from place to place, often living with a heroin user who police say stayed at motels because she was homeless, unemployed and had lost custody of her own children.
The drug user bought and used heroin daily, often in Cozzoni and her son’s presence, police said.
Earlier this month, Cozzoni signed over custody of her 16-month-old to the woman on non-legal documents. Cozzoni even changed her phone number the week of Oct. 6 to prevent the person caring for her son from contacting her, according to court documents.
Cozzoni later claimed the woman had kidnapped her son.
Cozzoni is facing three misdemeanor charges: making a false report, endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.
While police were booking Cozzoni, they discovered a pipe containing marijuana residue in her purse, police said.
Cozzoni was released from jail Tuesday after posting $2,500 bail. Reached by phone Thursday, she declined to comment.
Officials could not be reached for comment about who has custody of the boy, but according to court papers Cozzoni had recently been living at her grandparents’ home, and they may take custody of the child.
As part of any custody agreement, Cozzoni will not be allowed to live at that residence, authorities said.