Johnson has been jailed following her arrest on kidnapping and child abuse charges after Gabriel disappeared on her cross country trip.
She was being visited by Tammi Smith. She, along with her husband Jack Smith, say they were in talks with Johnson to adopt Gabriel before he disappeared. The Smiths have been named persons of interest by Tempe, Ariz., police for potentially withholding information about the case.
"I looked in her eyes and I can tell you, that baby is alive," said Smith.
She said Johnson described, in detail, how a young white couple came to her San Antonio hotel room, put Gabriel in a car seat, and walked away.
Johnson was on the run after skipping a custody hearing with a man who may be Gabriel's father.
"She did definitely describe the people, what they look like. They're definitely in San Antonio, she did sign paperwork, but they did not notarize it or anything like that," said Smith. "According to Elizabeth, these people are going to try and hide this baby."
The Smiths have said they were interested in adopting Gabriel, but detectives believe they are withholding information. But, it was Smith who felt victimized, and she told Johnson as much.
"When I started to cry about... the pain and suffering that she's caused me, my family and my children, yes she got very teary eyed."
There were some things Smith couldn't say.
"There are some things that she said that I think I need to talk to the Tempe police department about before I talk to you all about," said Smith to reporters.
As for why Smith is so interested, she says, like Johnson, she just wants the baby found.
"She wants to get out of jail and she wants them to find this baby," said Smith.
Police say the jailhouse meeting between the two women was not recorded.
