A nine-month-old baby who was believed to have been kidnapped by an apparent car thief only to be found a little over 12 hours after a frantic search, may not have been kidnapped at all, according to police.
Harlow Darby Freeman was sat in the backseat of the family's white 2009 Lexus SUV which was parked outside a residence in Parrish, Alabama, when the car and infant went missing at around 6.50pm last night.
A frantic search for the child and car ensued, with police issuing an amber alert for her.
Now, after her safe return to her parents, police have said it was likely the SUV was never stolen, nor was Harlow ever kidnapped.
Harlow was taken to the Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, as a precaution to be checked over after she was returned to her family.
Harlow was reportedly found inside her father's Lexus car, deep in the kudzu (also known as Japanese arrowroot or Chinese arrowroot) across the street from where the vehicle was reported stolen.
Police were conducting their fourth search of the area when they came across baby Harlow just before 8.30am on Tuesday, July 11.
Parrish Police Chief Danny Woodward said: "Daylight was our friend on this one."
He confirmed an investigation is ongoing, but they do not believe that the car was not stolen.
He said it was possible that her father forgot to put the car into park as he ran into his friend's house, allowing it to roll hundreds of yards down a large embankment before coming to rest in the thick vegetation.
He also suggested someone else could have taken the car out of park.
"We're just not sure yet," he told reporters.
Family and friends had gathered overnight desperately awaiting news on the missing infant. When the news came that she had been found safe, they reportedly began screaming with joy and hugging each other.
Police were called just before 7pm with reports that Harlow was missing. An amber alert for a missing child was issued by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency at 9.40pm, however, it was cancelled the following morning when she was found safe.
Harlow's mum, Bethany Smith, had taken to Facebook to beg for the safe return of her baby, believing she had been kidnapped. In one of her desperate appeals, she wrote: "If you know where my baby is or how I can get to her. I will meet you with no questions asked.
"Please just give me back my baby... I'm begging you to please bring my baby to me."
Believing the car to have been stolen with her child inside, Bethany even said "All I ask for is my baby back. Ya'll can keep the car!!! Just bring me my baby and no questioned asked!"
Another heartbreaking update read: "You can drop the baby off wherever you want just call me or message me and let me know where she is. No questions asked I swear."
The family offered a $5,000 reward for the safe return of baby Harlow, with law enforcement urging people to keep their eyes peeled for the white SUV. Parrish police officers and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigators searched the area three times over night.
However, it wasn't until the fourth search, with officers on foot and the state helicopter in the air, conducted during the daylight hours, that the car was spotted. Chief Woodard said: "They saw what they believed to be the bumper in the kudzu.
"They were able to get other people down in the woods looking and found it."
He said the department will now go back to interview those involved and consult with the Walker County District Attorney's Office to determine if charges should be filed. He said: "It's probably too early to say [if they will or not]."
"This is not something that happens in a small town like Parrish," Woodard continued. "This is a strange turn of events. Luckily, the child was found safe and we're going to continue to investigate."
Speaking after her niece was found, Harlow's aunt Melinda told local outlet WBRC that the family is "feeling ecstatic." She went on to say: "She's been found and we couldn't be any happier. Have to give God all the glory."
