Missing kidnapped girl, 3, found safe days after parents let suspect stay at their home
William Morgan
Featured Image Credit: Avondale AZ Police Department/Arizona Department of Public Safety
A couple have been reunited with their three-year-old daughter after she vanished from their home, along with a stranger they had kindly taken into their home.
Kehlani Rogers, 3, had last been seen at her home in Avondale, Arizona, at around 11.30pm on Friday night (February 20), but when her parents woke up the next day they could not find her anywhere, or a 'random woman' they had let stay with them.
In the ensuing missing persons hunt for the small child, who is barely 3'5" and described as being 'last seen in pink pyjamas', law enforcement worked through the night to track down Kehlani, but no other agencies or healthcare settings had seen her.
The focal point for their search was this woman, who they called 'Merena' and had been staying with the couple at their home, then described in a police appeal as a short and thin '30-year-old white female... last seen wearing a white top and purple or pink pants.'
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Court records seen by 12 News indicate that Kehlani's parents, who have not been named, had allowed the woman into their home as she needed somewhere to stay, despite not being known to them.
While it was not clear what had happened at first, an tip sent into police on Saturday led them to name her as their main subject in the search for the missing little girl
A woman had informed law enforcement that she had given a ride to a child and another woman earlier that day, dropping them off in the City of Maricopa but hearing that the adult intended to take her to California by train.
Investigators were able to find surveillance footage from around Maricopa that showed this 'Merena' still had the child. Then, on Sunday morning, another tip off led them to a gas station in Phoenix, where police discovered both of them.
Thankfully, Kehlani was 'found safe and in good health'.
According to the court documents, Noriega initially claimed to police officers that she was Kehlani's mom, but later said she had 'made a mistake'.
She also 'denied having any plan for the child after she took her and denied intent to sell or harm the child', according to People.
A statement from Avondale Police Department said that the adult who had taken Kehlani was a woman named Marina Noriega. It reads: "Investigators worked tirelessly through the night, following up on numerous tips.
"Earlier this morning, a community member reported a possible sighting near 27th Avenue and Indian School Road in Phoenix. Phoenix Police responded and located Kehlani Rogers and Marina Noriega.
"Kehlani is in good health and do not believe that she was harmed during this ordeal. Noriega is now in the custody of Avondale Police detectives and will be booked into the Maricopa County Jail system on charges related to this incident."