A 3-year-old girl from Avondale was found safe at a Phoenix gas station early Saturday, after disappearing from her home in the early hours of Friday, and police have arrested a suspect in connection with the case.
Background
The child, whose name has not been released by authorities, was reported missing from her family’s residence in Avondale at approximately 2:30 a.m. local time on Friday. Neighbors heard a distressed call for help and the Avondale Police Department launched an immediate search, issuing an Amber Alert that spread across the Phoenix metro area. Volunteers, law‑enforcement officers, and K‑9 units combed nearby streets, parks, and schools while the family pleaded for any information. By late Friday night, the search expanded to include gas stations and convenience stores along the I‑10 corridor after a tip suggested the child might have been taken to a nearby fuel stop.
The Investigation
At around 8:15 a.m. Saturday, officers from the Phoenix Police Department, assisted by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the FBI’s Phoenix field office, responded to a call at the Shell gas station on 17th Avenue. Surveillance footage captured a woman in a dark hoodie carrying a small child toward the station’s convenience store. When detectives arrived, the child was found sitting on a bench, visibly shaken but physically unharmed. The woman, identified as 28‑year‑old Maria Alvarez of Avondale, was taken into custody without incident. Alvarez is being held on an alleged kidnapping charge and is expected to be formally charged with child endangerment and unlawful restraint pending further investigation. Police say they are reviewing the station’s security cameras and the suspect’s cell‑phone records for additional leads.
Key Takeaways
- The 3‑year‑old was located unharmed at a Phoenix gas station after a coordinated multi‑agency search.
- 28‑year‑old Maria Alvarez was arrested and is allegedly linked to the child’s disappearance.
- Authorities treated the incident as a kidnapping and are pursuing child endangerment and unlawful restraint charges.
- The rapid Amber Alert and community response were credited with helping locate the child within hours.
What's Next
Avondale Police Department will continue to investigate the motive behind the alleged kidnapping, and the case will be presented to the Maricopa County Superior Court for arraignment. Alvarez is expected to appear before a judge within the next 48 hours, where a bail hearing will be scheduled. Meanwhile, the child has been reunited with her family and is receiving counseling services offered by the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Police have urged anyone with additional information about the suspect’s movements prior to the arrest to contact the Phoenix Police Department’s tip line.