CINCINNATI -- A 6-year-old girl who had been missing since Wednesday is safe, and the woman accused of taking her is in custody, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.
Ashley Hardy, the non-custodial mother of Malayah Sisco, took the girl from a family party Wednesday, authorities said. Hardy turned herself into police at about 11 a.m. Friday after becoming the subject of a statewide Amber Alert.
She stands charged with abduction and a felony protection order violation. Municipal Court Judge William Mallory set Hardy's bond at $25,000 on each count and ordered her to stay away from her daughter.
Malayah has been returned to her legal guardian.
Police said Celina Evans helped Hardy take the child. Police arrested Evans early Friday morning and charged her with abduction, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse listed in the Amber Alert belongs to Evans, deputies said. Daugherty said authorities found the vehicle at about 7:15 p.m. Thursday in Montgomery. It has been impounded. Evans was arrested near where the car was found.
Celina Evans has been arrested in connection with helping Hardy take the child.
Agencies must follow a series of guidelines when determining whether to issue an Amber Alert, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
This criteria includes: the abduction of a child 17 years old or younger, authorities believe the child is in “imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death,” there is enough descriptive information about the child to assist in the recovery and the child’s name has been entered into the National Crime Information Center.
