A kidnapped 2-year-old girl is now safe and reunited with her parents, thanks to the help of an Arizona moving company! And their heroic efforts were all caught on camera!
According to court records obtained by 12 News, the parents awoke early Saturday morning to find their 2-year-old daughter, Kehlani Rogers, along with 23-year-old Marina Noriega, a “random woman” they allowed into their Avondale home because she “needed a place to stay,” were gone. They reported their toddler missing at around 8:00 a.m. that day, and an Amber Alert was issued.
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As law enforcement began searching, they received a tip from someone claiming they drove a woman and a child matching the description from the Amber Alert. Court records stated the individual reported driving the pair to Maricopa, where the woman said she planned to take a train to California. Video surveillance footage also captured Marina and Kehlani at multiple locations in the city, and court documents revealed the alleged kidnapper said they slept on the street.
OMG…
By Sunday, Kehlani was found. A security guard first spotted a woman and child matching the Amber Alert description at a Phoenix QuikTrip at 7:20 a.m. that day and asked the crew of Camelback Moving Company for help with the situation. Foremen Ralph Vollmert and Kevin Place told Fox 10 Phoenix that they stopped at the gas station to grab drinks and food when they suddenly overheard the security guard on the phone with the police, saying that the missing little girl may be on the property. An employee explained that after speaking to the guard about what happened, he “knew” that they “had to do something” and “couldn’t just ignore it.”
Thank goodness they didn’t! In a video of the rescue, the group of men moved their trucks to “block” Marina’s car, trapped her in the parking lot, and got her license plate until police arrived at the scene. Ralph and Kevin added to Fox 10 Phoenix:
“Our trucks are 28, 30 feet long, so we knew it was a good idea to put the truck there just because there’s just no where you could go after that. It just breaks our heart because we have kids ourselves…nobody ever wants a kid to be a harm or to be hurt or to be mistreated.”
While waiting for the cops, per the video, they looked up a picture of Kehlani because they did not really know what she looked like since she “ran right past” them. But the second they saw a photo of the young girl, they knew they found her. One of the movers says in the clip:
“Oh my God, that’s her!”
Another asks:
“Is it really?”
To which the employee replied:
“Yep, that’s her. Looks like her. That’s exactly what she looks like.”
See the video (below):
@azcentral Community members helped authorities safely find a missing 2-year-old girl who was abducted from her home in Avondale over the weekend. Read more at the link in our bio. ????
♬ original sound – azcentral
According to the foreman, Phoenix police arrived within minutes and took Marina into custody without a struggle. She was arrested for a third-degree felony charge of custodial interference. Law enforcement said that Kehlani was “in good health” and they “do not believe that she was harmed during this ordeal.” She has since been reunited with her parents.
While being questioned, Marina told detectives Kehlani was her long-lost daughter whom she found in Arizona. However, 12 News reported she took it back, admitting she was not the child’s parent, as well as acknowledged she “made a mistake.” Investigators wrote in a court filing that “Marina denied having any plan for the child after she took her and denied intent to sell or harm the child.” Hmm.
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She ultimately didn’t give a reason why she allegedly kidnapped Kehlani. Prosecutors claimed that Marina was on drugs during a court appearance on Monday:
“It does appear that the defendant admitted that a glass pipe was located on her person during the search. And she admitted to smoking methamphetamine the day before.”
Marina is currently being held on a $250,000 bond after the abduction. As for the moving company crew members? They are getting all the praise for their actions, rightfully so! Camelback Moving President Chad Olsen praised the men, saying:
“This is definitely the first time we’ve ever blocked somebody in where the entire city and county and state are firmly behind us and happy we did so. We are incredibly proud of our community heroes for their courage, quick thinking and teamwork. Their actions exemplify what it means to look out for our community and to take its safety seriously. This is a powerful reminder that the Amber Alert system works. We also want to express our sincere gratitude that Kehlani was safely returned to her family.”
He is right! Amber Alerts DO work, and this situation is just further proof!
Officials with Camelback Moving added that they recently started training employees in human-trafficking awareness. What a great idea. Ralph and Kevin went on to issue an important message to everyone — look at the Amber Alerts and keep an eye out because you never know what could happen:
“I’m grateful for the alerts, you know, because it just yesterday proves that they work. So I would just say, pay attention to the alerts and read them. And if there’s pictures, look at them and just keep your eyes open because these type of things happen quite often.”
We’re so glad Kehlani is back home and OK now! And we applaud these men for helping to save her! Reactions, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments (below)!
[Image via Avondale AZ Police Department]
