By Mac.
A 6-year-old girl was abducted three hours ago from her home in Arizona. . .
UPDATE: Girl found - she is alive! No details yet. . . Press conference pending. . . .
She was found wandering a suburban neighborhood, having been left by the Nissan. Neighbors saw him leave with the girl this morning. The FBI and State Patrol is searching for the vehicle and Horner.
He was smart to dump the girl, but he is in such deep trouble - what would he lose by picking up another child? This is a bad situation.
UPDATE: Mom speaks in press conference. It was she who notified the police. She was not aware he was a sex offender, "Or he would not have been within 100 million miles of my house!" Alvarez met Horner through a mutual friend, and said she trusted him because a good friend did.
She expressed gratitude to the Amber Alert system, "...one of the best things to ever happen to this country.." and to law officials for their help. She especially wanted to thank the woman who spotted the child wandering alone, about 20 miles from her home...
(Story by Mac)
An Amber Alert has been issued, and interstate authorities are on the hunt for 6-year-old Olivia Alvarez, who was allegedly abducted from her home near Phoenix, Arizona this morning. She is believed to be in the company of George Richard Horner, 26, who was convicted in 2004 of sexual conduct with a minor, and as such is a registered sex offender.
They are believed to be in a blue/green Nissan Pathfinder, license plate Louisiana PKL 399. Horner was recently living with the girl's mother. He has a long criminal record, including assault and drug trafficking.
The vehicle is believed to have been initially traveling on Az State Route 387, and may have entered one of two nearby interstate highways - I-10 East-West, or I-40 East West. Authorities surmise Horner is either heading to LaFayette, LA where he was previously living, or to relatives in California.
Time is of the essence in the few hours after such an abduction. The public has been asked to watch closely for the vehicle, and report to authorities.
