A huge search effort has had a happy ending after a nine-month-old baby was kidnapped when the car she was sat in the back of was stolen last night.
Harlow Darby Freeman was in the back of her family's white Lexus SUV when her dad ran into a friend's house, briefly leaving the baby unattended. Police issued an amber alert for the missing child, with her mum taking to Facebook to issue desperate pleas to the car thief to simply return her baby.
And in the past few minutes, police have revealed little Harlow has been found alive.
Harlow was taken when the car was stolen from Parrish, Alabama, at around 6.50pm Monday night, July 10. Police feared the child was in "extreme danger".
A huge search effort was launched overnight after the vehicle was taken from Crest Avenue. Harlow's aunt, Melinda Hutchison, told local media outlets that the girl's father left her in the vehicle for just a moment while he ran inside a friend's house.
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Her family were offering a $5,000 reward for her safe return.
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Baby Harlow’s aunt Melinda Hutchison has told local media outlet WBRC that Harlow was being taken to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, as a precautionary measure.
She said the family is “feeling ecstatic.”
She said: “She’s been found and we couldn’t be any happier. Have to give God all the glory.”
Police have confirmed that nine-month-old Harlow has been found alive after she went missing last night. It's thought she was found around 12 to 14 hours after she was taken at approximately 6.50pm last night, Monday July 10.
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Harlow's family are offering a $5,000 reward for the safe return of the infant.
Speaking to local media outlet CBS 42, her aunt Melinda Hutchison said: "I hope whoever has her, I mean, I hope they're taking care of her. I mean, she's nine months old and, you know, I just know that sometimes money talks. And, so, maybe if somebody is offered money and they know something, they will say something."
Baby Harlow is described as a white female, nine months old. She has brown hair and blue eyes and is described as being 20 pounds and 26 inches tall.
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She was last seen wearing a tie-dye onesie and light pink shorts when she was taken. Police have issued a photo of the child as part of their amber alert.
An amber alert has been issued for Harlow (Parrish Police Department / Facebook)An amber alert is issued to the public, often through a notification on their mobile phones, when there is "reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred." Police must believe the child is in "imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death" to issue such an alert.
Anyone with information is being urged to call the Parrish Police Department on 205-696-9991 or to call emergency services on 911.
Harlow was sitting in the back of a white 2009 Lexus RX350 when she was taken. Police are now searching for the car and appealing to anyone who sees it to get in touch with any information.
The car is described as having damage on the rear passenger side which has been taped with clear tape. It has an Alabama licence plate with the tag "3880AR8".
Cops said they are on the lookout for a 2009 Lexus RX350 with Alabama tag number 3880AR8Harlow's mum, Bethany, wrote on Facebook asking for people to: "Be on the lookout for a 2009 white Lexus SUV RX350 damage to the back right. My car was stolen and the baby was in the back in her car seat!!! Please help!!!
"Car was stolen out of Parrish. If you're reading this and you know anything. All I ask is for 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 6.30-6.50-pm."
Harlow's heartbroken mother has made a series of desperate pleas, begging for her baby's safe return. Bethany Smith has taken to Facebook where she shared a series of updates, asking the thief to return her baby.
In one post, she wrote: "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 back to me."
Bethany's posts have received comments from people sending her well wishes and praying for her daughter's safe return. They have also been shared thousands of times as people join in the desperate search for the missing child.
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Nine-month-old Harlow Darby Freeman was sat in the back of a white Lexus RX350 SUV outside a home on Crest Avenue in Parrish, Alabama. Her aunt, Melinda Hutchison, told local reporters that Harlow had been left in the back of the car while her dad briefly ran into a friend's house.
The car is believed to have been stolen, with Harlow still inside, at around 6.50pm last night, July 10. Police have not released details of the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping but have issued an amber alert for Harlow's disappearance.
A huge search effort has been launched, with the family reportedly offering a $5,000 reward for baby Harlow's safe return. Police are asking anyone with information call the Parrish Police Department 205-686-9991 or 911.
Read more here.
