A baby in Alabama is safe hours after her father believed his car was stolen with the child inside. Police in Parrish broadcast an Amber Alert after 9-month-old Harlow Darby Freeman was reported missing by her father on Monday evening. Her father told police he left the baby in the back of his white Lexus SUV when he ran into a friend’s house. When he came out, Harlow and the car were gone.
An intense search for the child began with thousands of people sharing information about Harlow online and looking for the missing car. At one point, her family even offered a reward for her safe return. But within hours of the missing child report, Harlow was found safe, not far from where she was reported missing. What investigators think may have happened is like something out of a movie.
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The car disappeared just before 7 p.m. Monday.
AL.com reported police were called to a residence in Parrish on Monday evening, after Harlow’s dad reported that his car was missing and the child was in the back seat. He said he left the car briefly, but when he returned, it was gone. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency issued an Amber Alert at 9:40 p.m.
Her family was desperate.
Harlow’s mother, Bethany Smith, took to Facebook pleading for help finding her baby.
She wrote: “If you’re reading this and you know anything. All I ask is for my baby back. Y’all can keep the car!!!!! Just bring me my baby and no questions asked! Car was stolen from downtown Parrish between 6:30-6:50pm."
Facebook users shared the post 51,000 times.
Police found the car Tuesday morning with Harlow inside.
Thankfully, police found the father’s missing SUV Tuesday morning, and Harlow was OK. She was safely removed from the vehicle and taken to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham for observation. Parrish Police Chief Danny Woodard told AL.com Harlow was dehydrated, but a window in the vehicle was broken from a previous incident and provided her ventilation.
The location of the vehicle led investigators to an interesting conclusion.
The missing SUV was found deep in the kudzu across the street from where it was reported missing. Kudzu is an invasive vine that has taken over many parts of the American South. Investigators think Harlow’s father may not have put the vehicle in park, and it rolled away, but no one saw it happen. Investigators searched the area overnight, but it was hard to see because the car was covered. "Daylight was our friend on this one," he said.
Woodard said it is possible someone pushed the car into the brush, but it is unlikely, AL.com reported. He does not believe there is a threat to the community.
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Her family is thankful she is safe.
While the investigation is technically ongoing, the family is just focused on Harlow and thrilled she is home.
Her mother shared her thanks on Facebook. “I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart!! Harlow was found safe! The amount of people who came together to help us find her was overwhelming!! It made my heart so happy in such a horrific time! Thank you all soooo much! We love y’all!!” she wrote.
Her aunt, Melinda Hutchison, told WAFF, “She’s been found and we couldn’t be any happier,” she said. “Have to give God all the glory.”
