The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a bizarre case of dolls being left on doorsteps in San Clemente. John Cádiz Klemack reports from San Clemente for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, 2014.
A Southern California woman who attends her Orange County community's church decided to clear out her doll collection and surprise her neighbors with the dolls, leaving some residents stumped and "disturbed" by a resemblance to some neighborhood children.
The slew of deliveries began July 16 with at least eight San Clemente families finding porcelain dolls on their doorsteps.
While residents said they felt creeped out and "disturbed" over fears someone was trying to scare the Talega neighborhood of San Clemente, investigators learned Thursday night that the woman's intentions were pure.
"The woman attended church with many of the impacted families," Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock said.
The woman said she was clearing out an old doll collection and thought of some young girls in the neighborhood who might enjoy them, Hallock said.
It was not clear why the woman did not leave a note or tell the residents about the dolls.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
Earlier Thursday, residents said they were afraid of the reason behind the toys.
"I'm actually thinking the worst, like someone creepy watching our children and I'm actually pretty scared about it," resident Mary Robin Baziak said. "(Someone) found a China doll on her stop that looked like her daughter."
"It's really creepy and disturbing. As a mom with a daughter, it freaks me out," another neighbor said. "Hopefully it's a prank and not someone with very bad motives."
Christina Cocca contributed to this report.
