APOPKA, Fla. (WESH) — A 3-year-old girl who police said was abducted in Apopka early Monday has been found safe near Tallahassee, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The Amber Alert was issued Monday morning for 3-year-old Madeline Mejia.
Troopers said the girl was found in a car on Interstate 10 near Tallahassee. Four people in the car have been taken into custody.
Police in Apopka said a father told them he’d just taken his 3-year-old daughter outside when he realized he forgot his keys. As he ran back inside, he told police he heard a scream and then saw someone driving away with the girl.
Madeline Mejia was last seen around 6 a.m. in the 600 block of East Orange Street in Apopka, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said.
She was last seen wearing a pink shirt, blue jeans and pink shoes.
Officials with the Apopka Police Department said the girl’s father left her outside briefly Monday morning while he went back inside the house to grab his keys. He said he ran out when he heard his daughter screaming and saw a man taking off with her in a black Honda that had temporary Texas plates.
Police said the father followed the car for on the Florida Turnpike, all the way to I-75, where the it began going northbound. At that point police said he lost sight of the vehicle.
Police said the father did not have his phone with, so after losing the car on I-75 he returned home to Apopka and called police.
Police said it’s possible the car is still northbound on I-75 and headed toward Texas.
The father told police he did not recognize the man driving the car, and said the girl’s mother lives out of state.
The vehicle is being driven by a white-Hispanic male wearing a blue shirt and jeans. Officials said he has long brown hair and facial hair.
Police said there is a chance there was another woman in the car.
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