Authorities in Arizona announced on Sunday that they located a missing 2-year-old girl, Kehlani Rogers, and arrested a suspect, 23-year-old Marina Noriega, thanks to the quick actions of a security guard and several employees from a moving company.
The Avondale Police Department reported that Noriega was taken into custody and booked for interfering with custody, a third-degree felony. It was noted that Noriega had an acquaintance-type relationship with Kehlani’s family, having only recently met them.
According to the child’s parents, Noriega was briefly staying with them and had allowed them to spend the night at her residence when she left with their daughter.
Kehlani was last seen late Friday night, and a Facebook post regarding her disappearance was shared on Saturday. Thankfully, on Sunday, the child was found and reunited with her family after local Good Samaritans searched the area.
A foreman from Camelback Moving mentioned that he overheard a security guard at a KwikTrip gas station express concern for a child present at the location.
He felt compelled to act, saying he couldn’t just brush it off. The KwikTrip security officer, C. Edmonds, first identified the girl and adult woman matching descriptions from an alert and called upon Camelback Moving crews for assistance.
In a swift and coordinated action, employees from the moving company blocked the suspect’s vehicle with one of their trucks while using a second truck to prevent any escape from the parking lot.
Following a citizen’s tip to the Phoenix Police, the officers arrived at the gas station, where they safely retrieved Kehlani and apprehended Noriega without any issues.
Camelback Moving President Chad Olsen commended his team’s bravery and teamwork, highlighting the importance of community action. In a statement, he expressed pride in their quick thinking and dedication to the community’s safety, stressing the effectiveness of the Amber Alert system in this case.
Aisha Jefferson, a spokesperson for QuickTrip, mentioned their appreciation for the diligence of their staff and the rapid response from the police, reinforcing their commitment to safety across their locations.
