Kidnapped Girl, 3, Found Safe Days After Parents Let Suspect Stay at Their Home Because She ‘Needed a Place’

A 3-year-old girl from Arizona was found safe two days after she was reported missing, police announced over the weekend.

Kehlani Rogers was reported missing from Avondale, Arizona, according to an Amber Alert issued by the Avondale Police Department. Authorities said she was last seen late Friday evening, Feb. 20.

Police later confirmed that the child was located safely on Sunday morning.

Officials took Marina Noriega, 23, into custody in connection with the alleged abduction.

Court records provided additional details about the situation. According to reports, Kehlani’s parents told police they had allowed a woman they did not know to stay in their home because she needed a place to sleep.

On Saturday morning, the parents discovered that both the woman and their child were gone.

During the search, investigators received a tip that helped them identify Noriega as a suspect. Authorities said a woman reported giving Noriega and the child a ride to the City of Maricopa. According to court records, Noriega allegedly mentioned plans to take a train to California.

Surveillance footage from a local business in Maricopa reportedly confirmed that Noriega had been there with the child.

On Sunday morning, investigators located Noriega and Kehlani at a gas station after they were seen in Phoenix, police said.

During questioning, Noriega allegedly told officers that she was Kehlani’s mother but later withdrew the statement, claiming she had made a mistake. Authorities reported that Noriega denied having any harmful intentions toward the child.

Police stated that Noriega was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on charges related to the incident.