2-year-old missing Avondale girl found in Phoenix; Amber Alert canceled

Missing 2-year-old found safe after Amber Alert

Avondale Police said the toddler that went missing on Saturday, leading to an Amber Alert, was found safe, while the woman who was with her was arrested.

AVONDALE, Ariz. - Police previously reported that the child was 3 years old, but later corrected her age to 2 years old. 

On February 21, an Amber Alert was issued for a 2-year-old girl who was believed to be abducted, and was with an adult unrelated to her.  

What we know:

Avondale Police, sheriff deputies and the FBI searched for 2-year-old Kehlani Rogers, who was last seen at around 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 20 at her home near 119th Avenue and West Thomas Road.

On Feb. 22, Lt. Manuel Rios stated, "We can officially confirm that Kehlani Rogers has been found safe and in good health, and Marina Noriega has been taken into custody."

Avondale PD says Rogers was found after a possible sighting was reported near 27th Avenue and Indian School Road in Phoenix. Rios says they do not believe Rogers was harmed during the ordeal.  The Amber Alert was canceled.

Noriega was taken into custody for one count of custodial interference. Police said the woman was a recently-met acquaintance of Rogers' family. 

Dig deeper:

Police identified the suspect as 23-year-old Marina Noriega. Earlier, the woman was known as "Merena" and "Mariana" who is described as a 30-year-old white woman, with a short stature, thin build, brown hair, and hazel eyes.  

Police identify suspect in toddler's abduction out of Avondale

Police say 23-year-old Mariana Noriega allegedly took 2-year-old Kehlani Rogers from an Avondale home late Friday night, and believe the child's life is in danger. (previous report)

Surveillance video from a local business confirmed that Noriega was last seen in the City of Maricopa with the child, who was wearing purple pajamas with multicolor smiley faces. 

"The fact that she was not allowed to be taken, there was no prior conversation, there was no plan. They wake up this morning and Kehlani’s gone and Marina’s gone – this is what leads us to believe that she’s in danger," Jaret Redfearn with the Avondale Police Department said. 

Local perspective:

Police searched cars and talked to neighbors. 

"They stopped over here and just kind of asking if they could let their dogs do a little quick search around the property – and absolutely. Anything to help the situation," a neighbor said. 

"Police officers came by my house this morning and asked us if we had cameras, and they wanted to find out if there was anything on our cameras, but we didn’t see anything," another said. 

What we don't know:

Police have not released any information on how exactly the child was taken from the neighborhood.

What's next:

"Noriega is now in the custody of Avondale Police detectives and will be booked into the Maricopa County Jail system on charges related to this incident," stated Rios.

The Amber Alert was canceled.

Map of the nearby location of where the child was last seen.