Neighbors watched in shock as a pregnant mother’s car was stolen during a car wash, totaled minutes later—and the suspect allegedly threatened officers afterward.

 A Startling Theft at the Wash

July 13, 2025: On July 7, in broad daylight, 33‑year‑old Chanel Aisha Anderson reportedly jumped into the running car of Helen Marie, an eight‑months‑pregnant single mother, who had stepped away briefly to retrieve her vehicle’s mats at a Kissimmee car wash. Surveillance footage shows Anderson immediately putting the car in reverse and speeding away in a high‑aggressive move, alarming both Marie and nearby witnesses.

Chaos on the Road: A $20K Joyride

Anderson sped through the car wash and caused serious damage—estimated at $20,000—before the car careened across a median, struck multiple vehicles, and crashed head‑on into a gas tanker truck and a pole near Vine Street and Thacker Avenue. The pregnant victim, along with other drivers, watched in horror.
Marie was not physically injured but was taken to the hospital for precautionary checks. Her vehicle—and her daughters’ car seats—were destroyed, leaving her stranded just weeks before her due date.

Victim’s Hardship and Emotional Toll

A mother of two young girls, Marie is now struggling without a car as she prepares for her baby’s arrival. She opened a GoFundMe campaign to help with basic needs since liability‑only insurance leaves her with no way to replace the totaled vehicle or damaged belongings—including diapers that shattered with shards of glass.

In her own words:

“When they put the vehicle in reverse and I heard the tires screeching … it was like an aggressive move… I knew this wasn’t something typical.”
“I tried to salvage what I could from those diapers, but there were shards of glass in the diapers.”

Arrest and Alleged Confrontation

Police later arrested Chanel Anderson, who was found slumped over at the crash scene. According to arrest reports, she became aggressive upon exiting the vehicle, yelling at officers that she “wanted to fight,” prompting a stun‑device response to subdue her. Anderson now faces felony charges including grand theft auto, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest without violence, and is being held on a $5,000 bond.

Helen Marie was simply doing something routine—washing her car—when her life took a terrifying turn. Left without transportation or coverage to recover her losses, she now faces the emotional and financial burden of rebuilding for her children and unborn son. Meanwhile, Anderson’s dramatic, destructive joyride and threatening behavior has landed her behind bars.
The case is now pending in Osceola County courts as the pregnant victim and her family wait for justice—and a way to move forward.