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An 11-day-old baby boy abducted from Surprise was safely recovered in northern Arizona on Saturday after law enforcement officers intercepted a suspect vehicle near Winslow
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The infant’s father, who did not have custodial rights, took the child from the mother without permission, Surprise police Lt. James Rothschild said
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Detectives searched through the night on July 31 and worked with other law enforcement agencies to locate the infant
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The infant was taken to a medical facility as a precaution and is currently awaiting reunification with his mother
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An investigation into the incident remained ongoing and it was too early to know what charges, if any, might be filed, Rothschild said
An 11-day-old baby boy abducted from Surprise was safely recovered in northern Arizona on Saturday after law enforcement officers intercepted a suspect vehicle near Winslow.
Navajo County Sheriff’s deputies and Arizona DPS troopers intercepted the suspect’s vehicle near Winslow — nearly 200 miles away — and safely rescued the child.
The infant was taken to a medical facility as a precaution and is currently awaiting reunification with his mother while officials prepare further details on potential charges.
Detectives searched through the night on July 31 and worked with other law enforcement agencies to locate the infant.
The swift recovery brought the high-stakes search across county lines to a safe conclusion.
The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office received a statewide Attempt to Locate (ATL) alert, coordinating with state troopers to locate the infant unharmed nearly 200 miles away from home.
The infant was immediately transported to a local medical facility as a precautionary measure to ensure his health and safety.
The baby’s mother was waiting for his return.
Authorities confirmed the baby is currently awaiting an emotional reunification with his mother.
Law enforcement pinpointed the vehicle’s location and moved quickly.
The infant’s father, who did not have custodial rights, took the child from the mother without permission, Surprise police Lt. James Rothschild said.
Surprise police said officers contacted everyone involved and confirmed the infant was safe.
The investigation was still ongoing at that point.
Authorities did not immediately identify those involved or say whether anyone had been arrested.
Investigators were examining what charges might follow.
An investigation into the incident remained ongoing and it was too early to know what charges, if any, might be filed, Rothschild said.
“We appreciate the assistance of Arizona DPS and are grateful this incident had a safe outcome,” deputies said.
In the viral moment that unfolded across the evening of July 31 and early morning of August 1, law enforcement responded to an abduction report from Surprise, a city west of Phoenix. The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office received an alert late on July 31 about an 11-day-old boy taken without permission from his mother by his father, who held no custodial rights to the child. Deputies in Navajo County, more than three hours away from Surprise, were mobilized to search for the suspect vehicle as it traveled north toward the state’s interior.
By Saturday morning, the search had expanded into a coordinated effort across multiple agencies. Navajo County Sheriff’s deputies and Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers worked in tandem to locate the vehicle, ultimately spotting it near Winslow, a town nearly 200 miles north of Surprise. The quick interception allowed deputies to safely retrieve the unharmed infant before the situation could escalate further. Officers moved the baby to a hospital for precautionary medical checks, where he awaited his mother.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities determine what charges, if any, will be filed against the father in the coming days.