BOTHELL, Wash. — A 3-year-old Bothell girl at the center of an AMBER Alert was found safe in Snohomish County Tuesday morning.
The AMBER Alert was issued around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday and canceled just before 6:45 a.m. after the girl was found. The girl was reunited with her mother by 7 a.m.
According to the Washington State Patrol, the girl was in a 2001 gold Honda Accord that was stolen on the 9800 block of Northeast 190th Street in Bothell.
Police said the girl’s mother was returning from a friend’s house early Tuesday morning and took her first child into her apartment unit. While she was inside, police said she heard “a screeching sound from tires.” When the mother returned outside, police said she realized her car was gone and that her 3-year-old was still inside the vehicle.
The girl was found in a residential neighborhood a few miles from where the vehicle was stolen. The Honda Accord was also located.
Officers believe that after just a few minutes, the suspect realized the vehicle had a sleeping child inside and abandoned the vehicle.
Cam Johnson with the Bothell Police Department said the mother will not be facing charges.
"I think [parents] know what the message is. Most of us have heard the message about not leaving a running vehicle," she said. "This is a really hard lesson to learn. [The mother] has been through a horrible night. She’s not the criminal here.”
The girl was medically evaluated at the scene before being taken with her mother taken to the Bothell police station to be interviewed by officers.
There is no official suspect description.
Johnson said that the vehicle is being towed away so that it can be analyzed for evidence.
Video released Wednesday shows the suspect was "lurking" in the area for an hour or more, according to Bothell police. Detectives continue to investigate and are seeking tips.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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