A girl, missing for more than 20 hours, was found with her uncle at a park in Normal Heights near 34th and Adams around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The 5-year old girl was picked up by her uncle Deangelo Mitchell at her school, the Holly Drive Leadership Academy around 5 p.m. Tuesday. The girl's mother spoke with the uncle and confirmed that her daughter had been picked up but around 1 a.m. Wednesday, the mother called police saying the pair had not been seen since.
"At 5:10 p.m. everything seemed to be okay," said SDPD Lt. David Rohowits. "Mitchell said he was on his way home with the child however, he never arrived at home."
Family members made several attempts to contact the uncle to bring the little girl back, according to police. Mitchell did have contact with relatives around 8:30 a.m. but told them he had run out of gas police said.
Officers searched the county for the uncle's vehicle - a white Chevy minivan with twin sliding doors and license plate 6DFS595.
Officers found the vehicle at 33rd and Bancroft and staked it out for awhile and then noticed the man and his niece walking from the park at the corner of 34th and Adams.
The girl seems to be fine with no physical injuries and appears to be in good spirits, according to Lt. Jim Collins.
Mitchell, 44, is under arrest facing charges of kidnapping.
