Rilee, who went missing from South Padre Island, Texas, over the summer, has been found, Leslie Blasing, a family spokesperson, announced.
Leslie said Rilee and her mother, Lilian, were found in Panama before US Marshals escorted the mother and daughter to Harlingen, Texas.
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A missing three-year-old girl, Rilee Crouch, has been found
Image credits:Dakota Lee Crouch
She is currently being held on a warrant of interference with child custody,KRGVreported on Sunday (December 29).
Lilian has reportedly been accused of abducting Rilee from South Padre Island over thesummer.
As a result, Rilee’s family had been holding rallies, asking the community to help find her.
Image credits:Visit South Padre Island
On social media, a slew of people also came together in efforts to find the little girl, with a Facebook group called “Where is Rilee Crouch” amassing hundreds of followers.
“So glad they found her! Hope the court does what is right,” a Facebook user commented after the news of Rilee’s whereabouts was unveiled. “Praying for your whole family as y’all go through this!”
A person wrote: “Justice for Rilee and to all the daddies out [there] that are going through this hardship that women put them through. Daddies also deserve to have and see their children.”
She was found in Panama alongside her mother, Lilian Maria Crouch, months after disappearing from Texas, USA in July
A separate individual chimed in: “Oh my goodness!!!! This is the best news of 2024!
Little Rilee is now on her way back toRio Grande Valley, Texas, presumably where her father resides.
Image credits:Where Is Rilee Crouch
Rilee had been missing since July 2 when her father, Dakota Crouch, returned her home to her mother,Valley Centralreported on Monday (December 30).
Just two days later, when he went to pick her up, both his daughter and the child’s mother were reportedly gone.
The parents were allegedly in the middle of a custody battle over their daughter, as perValley Central.
It is estimated that 2,300 children go missing every day in the United States. Children can become missing for many reasons, according toChild Find of America.
An estimated 203,900 children were victims of a family abduction in 1999. A family abduction occurs when a family member takes or keeps a child in violation of the custodial parent’s or legal guardian’s legitimate rights.
Image credits:KRGV Stefany Rosales
Children aged between six and 11 are most commonly abducted (35%) in the US, and nearly a quarter of the cases (24%) last between one week and one month.
While 66% of abductors are male relatives, 21% involve other relatives, reflecting the complex dynamics in families where 42% of children live with a single parent, and 15% reside with other relatives or foster caregivers.
Rilee had been missing since July 2 when her father, Dakota Crouch, returned her home to her mother
Additionally, some abductors claim motives of protecting the child from perceived abuse.
Parental abduction is always traumatic for children, causing anxiety, feelings of abandonment, confusion, helplessness, loneliness, and grief,Psychology Todayexplains.
According to the outlet, children finding themselves in these types of incidents are essentially hostages of an often very troubled parent.
The damage can be life-long, and the victim may experiencedepression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder, as perPsychology Today.
“A lucky and swift end to what could have easily dragged out for years,” a reader commented
Renan Duarte
Lei RV
Donata Leskauskaite
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