Would-be Kidnapper Of Joe Montana's Granddaughter Released

MALIBU, CA — The woman who was arrested in September and accused of breaking into the Malibu home of football Hall of Famer Joe Montana and attempting to kidnap his 9-month-old granddaughter was released from jail today, jail records show.

Various reports say that all charges have been dropped.

The L.A. County Sheriff's Department's Inmate Information Center website confirms that Sodsai Dalzell, 40, was released at 4:33 a.m. Friday. The reason was "dismissed."

The Hollywood Reporter and KNX radio, among other outlets, said all charges were dropped, but no further information was immediately available.

She had been held on $200,000 bail prior to her release.

Dalzell, 39 at the time, pleaded not guilty to one count each of attempted kidnapping of a child under 14 and first-degree residential burglary with a person present, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Last September, Montana flagged down deputies from the sheriff's Lost Hills station. He told them his 9-month-old grandchild had been sleeping in a playpen in the living room when an unknown woman entered the home on Pacific Coast Highway, removed the baby and walked upstairs with the child in her arms.

The girl was not harmed.

"Mr. Montana and his wife Jennifer confronted the female, attempted to de-escalate the situation and asked for the suspect to give back their grandchild. A tussle ensued, and Mrs. Montana was able to safely pry the child out of the suspect's arms," according to a sheriff's statement at the time.

Deputies found Dalzell nearby and arrested her.

— City News Service