'Pants Baby' to be reunited with family after five-week search

Eric Lacy | Lansing State Journal

EAST LANSING -- A mother who regrets selling her daughters' favorite toy at a moving sale in Lansing and who has scoured the city's east side trying to get it back said she's received some good news.

Nichole Biber, 43, of East Lansing, said Thursday she's expected to meet next week with the woman who bought the 4-inch, pink-faced, armless doll known as "Pants Baby."

The doll, whom Biber and her daughters, ages 8 and 17, identify as a boy, has legs that are covered by a white pair of pants — hence the name.

"Pants Baby is even more tragic than he used to be," Biber said, "because his head got smashed somehow. He's still eminently lovable."

For over a month, Biber, who also has a 4-year-old son, had tried to find the doll in Lansing after she regrettably sold it at her May 27 moving sale on Regent Street.

She posted several "Lost" fliers at businesses along the city's East Michigan Avenue corridor, including two at Strange Matter Coffee, 2010 E. Michigan Ave.

On Saturday, Jake Carrick, 29, of Lansing, saw one of the fliers at the coffee shop and recalled attending the moving sale with a friend who bought the doll.

“I just started reading it," Carrick said of the flier. "It took me a bit, but I connected the dots."

Biber and the woman who bought the doll — whom Biber and Carrick choose not to name — are expected to meet next week in East Lansing or Okemos to make the exchange.

The woman, who goes by the name "A LIa Knor" on Facebook, confirmed Thursday night she has the doll. "Yes, thanks for finding me!" she replied in a Facebook message.

Attempts Friday morning to get her full name weren't successful.

Biber said the woman, whom she describes as an "artistic young woman" with short bangs and blonde hair, bought Pants Baby, a striped dress, skirt, a few toys and a couple books at the moving sale for $11.

On Thursday evening, Carrick sent a State Journal reporter four pictures of Pants Baby proving the doll still exists.

Biber then confirmed the pictures are legit.

"Of course!" Biber wrote Thursday night in a text message.

Once Biber gets Pants Baby back, she intends to give the woman a reward: "A nice book about cats" and "some small toys."

Biber said she plans on giving Pants Baby to her 17-year-old daughter as a class of 2019 high school graduation present.

"She is just a big fan of creepy dolls," Biber said Thursday in a phone interview. "We always have thought Pants Baby is pretty special because there's something a bit tragic about him."

Biber's daughter attends the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts in Louisiana.

Pants Baby's successful return may prompt Biber to post a few celebratory notices at Strange Matter Coffee and other businesses.

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Mom determined to get 'Pants Baby' back

Pants Baby was welcomed by Biber's family about eight years ago, after the doll was purchased at a Lansing-area Volunteers of America thrift store.

"Maybe I'll make a followup flier — 'Found!'" Biber said.

Strange Matter Coffee's Twitter page had a message early Friday afternoon that promoted a one-day "Pants Baby Flash Sale."

"Say code word: PANTS BABY at register and get 10% off your order for the rest of the day!" the post read.

Eric Lacy is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact Eric Lacy at 517-377-1206 or elacy@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricLacy.