The Big Mother

A three-day-old newborn is abducted from a hospital nursery during a rain-soaked night, triggering a frantic citywide search. With no ransom demand and no physical evidence, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero sift through false leads, anonymous tips, and mounting public pressure as the hours tick by. The investigation finally leads to a quiet neighborhood baptism—and a grieving woman driven by loss, desperation, and a heartbreaking need to replace the child she never got to bring home. Originally aired: November 9, 1950. Cast: Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Herb Butterfield, Harry Bartell, Parley Baer, Peggy Webber Tags: Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, kidnapping, infantabduction, investigation, manhunt, psychological, mentalhealth, hospital, suspense, drama, justice, police, classicradio