Mum's heartbreaking plea to thief she feared kidnapped baby found 14-hours later

11 July 2023 , 13:19

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Harlow Darby Freeman has been found safe (Image: Bethany Smith / Facebook)

A heartbroken mother's desperate plea to an alleged thief paid off - as she was found alive in the car - sparking suspicion she didn't actually get kidnapped/

A frantic 14-hour search took place Harlow Darby Freeman, who was in the back of her dad's Lexus when it went missing.

Police feared the child is now in "extreme danger" after the car was taken while her dad had quickly run into a friend's house.

Police launched a huge search for the little girl overnight after the vehicle disappeared while she was inside, from Crest Avenue, in Parrish, Alabama, at around 6.50pm.

Now, after her safe return to her parents, police have said it was likely the SUV was never stolen, nor was Harlow ever kidnapped.

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She was sat in the back of her dad's Lexus (Parrish Police Department / Facebook)

Harlow was reportedly found inside her father's Lexus car, deep in the kudzu (also known as Japanese arrowroot or Chinese arrowroot) across the street from where the vehicle was reported stolen.

Police were conducting their fourth search of the area when they came across baby Harlow just before 8.30am on Tuesday, July 11.

Parrish Police Chief Danny Woodward said: "Daylight was our friend on this one."

He confirmed an investigation is ongoing, but they do not believe that the car was not stolen.

Harlow's mum, Bethany Smith, took to Facebook to beg people to "Be on the lookout for a 2009 white Lexus SUV RX 350 damage to the back right. My car was stolen and the baby was in the back seat in her car seat!!!

"Please help!!! Car was stolen out of Parrish. If you're reading this and you know anything. All I ask for is my baby back. Ya'll can keep the car!!!! Just bring me my baby and no questions asked! Car was stolen from downtown Parrish between 6.30-6.50pm."

Another post read: "If you know where my baby is or how I can get to her. I will meet you with no questions asked. Please just give me back my baby... I'm begging you to please bring my baby to me."

A third update said: "You can drop the baby off wherever you want just call me or message me and let me know where she is. No questions asked I swear."

Her final heartbreaking update for the day read: "The baby still hasn't been found!! Please continue to pray that the baby is found!!!"

Police have been searching through the night for Harlow (Alabama Law Enforcement Agency / Facebook)

Bethany's posts received comments with people praying for her daughter's safe return and have been shared thousands of times as members of the public join in with the frantic search for the child.

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An amber alert was issued to the public, which is sent out by law enforcement when they have a "reasonable belief... that an abduction has occurred" before it was taken down.

Cops said they are on the lookout for a 2009 Lexus RX350 with Alabama tag number 3880AR8

Harlow's aunt, Melinda Hutchison, told reporters that her dad had left the child inside the vehicle briefly to run inside a friend's house. The family is offering a $5,000 reward for Harlow's safe return.

In a statement posted to their Facebook page, the Parrish Police Department said: "The Parrish Police Department is on the scene of a 9-month-old child that was kidnapped at approximately 6.50pm from a residence on Crest Avenue in Parrish.

"The child is a W/F approximately 20 pounds. The vehicle is described as a white 2009 Lexus RX350 tag number 3880AR8. The vehicle has damage on the rear passenger side and appears to be taped with clear tape. Anyone with information call the Parrish Police Department 205-686-9991 or 911. We will update as information becomes available."

Fiona Leishman