Missing girl, 4, found unharmed in Fla.
Police ended a national search for a 4-year-old Chester County girl allegedly abducted by her mother after the child was found unharmed in Florida.
Police ended a national search for a 4-year-old Chester County girl allegedly abducted by her mother after the child was found unharmed in Florida.
The girl, Alexis Roadside, is in the temporary custody of child-welfare officials in Miami and will be returned to Pennsylvania, police said. She and her mother, Veronica Faith Henry Roadside, 41, were found by police after being reported missing since April 12.
According to the criminal complaint, Veronica Roadside fled the family home in Coatesville with Alexis the day after her husband, Robert Paul Roadside Jr., 44, threatened to return Alexis to her legal guardians, the child's grandparents.
A year earlier, the Roadsides lost custody of Alexis after their mutual accusations of child abuse prompted a court-ordered psychological evaluation. The results led to a judge's granting custody to Robert Roadside's parents, Robert Paul Roadside Sr., 71, and Phyllis Roadside, 68, of Mount Laurel.
When Robert and Veronica Roadside reconciled last year, he falsely told his parents that the court order "had been revised" to allow him and his wife to have custody, the criminal complaint said. As a result, Roadside was charged yesterday with interference with the custody of Alexis.
Veronica Roadside was charged with interference with the custody of a child and concealing her whereabouts. Kidnapping charges are likely to be added, said Chester County Deputy District Attorney Stephen J. Kelly.
Alexis' disappearance prompted an Amber Alert and a search that involved at least half a dozen states.
Trooper Thomas Barton, the lead investigator from the Embreeville barracks, said teamwork by officials from across the country enabled police to track Veronica Roadside to New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana and Florida.
He described the investigation as "only half over," and said more arrests were possible.
Robert Roadside was released on $50,000 bail to await a preliminary hearing on May 4, and Veronica Roadside is awaiting extradition.