Edmond Woman Speaks Out About Unknowingly Harboring Fugitive

A metro mother speaks out after she unknowingly sheltered a mother and her daughter who were hiding from federal authorities.

That mother abducted her daughter three years ago during a custody visit.

Carla Osborne, 52, her daughter 13-year-old Lillie Warren, and her 18-year-old brother have been essentially homeless since 2010. Recently, the three were living in an area motel when they met Lillian Jagers, who took the three in.

"I never thought in my wildest dreams that she was hiding something," said Jagers.

Jagers was going through her own transition in life when she met Carla Osborne's two children at an area motel.

"They're really really well mannered, well-spoken kids and they just needed a break, that's all," said Jagers.  

At one point she says the three had to live in their car after running out of money. Lillian says Osborne was a US postal worker for 18 years, but quit her job and moved to Oklahoma to care for her critically ill aunt.

"And I just really reached out to her woman to woman, mother to mother," said Jagers. "We had some real heart-to-heart talks. She told me how she used to live, and it's similar to how I live".

Lillian opened the doors to her home and began trying to help the three get back on track. But never did she suspect she was helping a mother, who had her 13-year-old child illegally.

"I'm not going to say I'm angry with her at this point. I'm disappointed with her," said Jagers.  

She got a phone call from Osborne Wednesday from the Logan County Jail.

"She never apologized to me. She never said thank you for keeping my son," said Jagers.

Lillian apologizes to her family and neighbors for wearing her heart on her sleeve.

"It's a whole other thing when you involve other people in your mistake. So I need my neighbors to understand that I am sorry," said Jagers. "I've learned a big lesson, but I'm going to continue to do my good deeds."

Osborne and her two children lived with Lillian and her husband for a little less than a month. She has three grown children of her own and has raised five other children. Her 15-year-old son lives with her now.  

"I didn't treat them any differently. I loved them with my whole heart. I know that them meeting me, meeting me husband, and meeting my son gave them a sense of family, a sense of peace," said Jagers.

Lillian talked to 13-year old Lillie yesterday and says she's excited to be back home in Kansas City and back with her father. She's also looking forward to starting school.