Missing Downey girl reunited with mother

DOWNEY, Calif. (KABC) -- A missing girl from Downey has been reunited with her mother, and her accused abductor is being questioned by police.

Authorities say the suspect, identified as Kailei Valdivia, told the girl's mother that she was going to the store with the girl, Stephanie Hartzell, at about 6 p.m. Monday, but they never returned home. The mother contacted police at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Police say Valdivia, 42, was temporarily living with Stephanie and her mother. She told detectives it was all a misunderstanding. The mother says she had no right to keep her child overnight.

Valdivia met with police at a park in Norwalk just before 5 p.m., where she returned the child.

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missing person, kidnap, los angeles news, leanne suter

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