A baby thought to have been kidnapped survived in a hot car for 14 hours thanks to a broken window providing ventilation, it has emerged.
Harlow Darby Freeman, a nine-month-old infant, was reported missing when she was left in the back of her father's white Lexus SUV while he briefly entered a friend's house in Parrish, Alabama on Monday, July 10.
The car and the infant were both gone when he returned. A frantic search ensued, and an amber alert was issued. After approximately 14 hours, Harlow was found still inside the car, which was discovered in dense vegetation.
The police believe the car's parking brake may have been off, either due to the father's forgetfulness or potential tampering. Harlow was found in her car seat, dehydrated but in a good condition.
Thankfully, the baby had ventilation as a rear window of the car had been broken from a previous incident, saving the child from overheating, according to the police.
The child was taken to a hospital for evaluation but was found to be well and returned home in good condition.
The car was discovered in a dense patch of kudzu (Japanese or Chinese arrowroot) on Crest Avenue, across the road, during the fourth search of the area. Photos of the scene, showing the vehicle entangled in the undergrowth, raised questions about how it was missed during previous searches.
Parrish Police Chief Danny Woodard remarked, "Daylight was our friend on this one," following Harlow's recovery and return to her family. Chief Woodard stated that an investigation is ongoing, but authorities do not believe the car was stolen.
Harlow was found in her car seat, and one of the windows had been broken in an unrelated incident, providing some ventilation overnight. As a precaution, the baby was taken to Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, where she was reported to be dehydrated but in good condition.
Chief Woodard suggested that her father may have forgotten to put the car in park, causing it to roll down a large embankment and become entangled in thick vegetation. Another possibility considered was that someone else had moved the car out of the park, although it remains uncertain.
Initially believing her child had been kidnapped during the car theft, Ms Smith made several desperate pleas on Facebook, imploring for her baby's safe return. In one plea, she offered to meet anyone with information about her baby, emphasizing that no questions would be asked.
Emotional footage captured at the scene after Harlow's discovery showed a mix of cheers, sobbing, and relief from the gathered friends, family, and loved ones who had anxiously awaited news throughout the overnight search. Joyful embraces, tears, and jubilant shouts filled the air as the ordeal came to an end.
