Cops: Teens who ran away with 3-year-old found safe
Police believe Delco girls ran away before child services could take them.
A COLLINGDALE teen and her 3-year-old sister were found safe in a West Philadelphia house late Wednesday night after the elder girl ran away from home with the little one in tow, police said yesterday.
The girls' cousin, who had joined them in their escape, returned home on her own, said Collingdale Police Chief Robert Adams.
Nicole Sporish, 16, ran away with her little sister early Wednesday morning, right before Delaware County Children and Youth Services workers were slated to take them from their mother's home, police said.
Adams declined to say why the girls were to be placed in protective custody or if their mother urged them to flee.
The two were later joined by their cousin, 15-year-old Danielle Natale, and police spent most of the day searching for the girls.
Shortly after 11 p.m., police got word that Natale had returned home, and after interviews with the girl, they were able to track the other two to a house on Westminster Avenue near 52nd Street in West Philadelphia.
They were found unharmed and placed into the custody of CYS.
Police said Natale told them that a man she knew only as "Steve" had met the trio in Sharon Hill and driven them to New Jersey, where "he abandoned them once he realized their story was on the news and online through social media."
Authorities are still investigating how and why the sisters ended up at the West Philly home.
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