The subject of an Amber Alert in Saskatchewan and Alberta overnight was found in a vehicle two kilometres away from where she was abducted. Six-year-old Emma O’Keeffe was in the back seat of a running car when it was stolen from a strip mall in North Battleford Sunday evening.
Workers in a remote industrial area spotted the SUV based on the description in the Amber Alert around 6:45 Monday morning and the girl was found conscious inside. Corporal Rob King says the focus of police is now on finding a suspect, and won’t speculate on whether her parents could be facing charges.
“Someone took a vehicle that was not theirs with a child in the backseat and then was responsible for the child being left overnight, so that’s our primary focus right now.”
There was a great concern for Emma’s wellbeing, as she is autistic and epileptic and heavily dependant on medication. She was treated in hospital and has since been reunited with her parents and released.
At this point, RCMP doesn’t have a description of her abductor and doesn’t know what happened to the vehicle between the time it was stolen and found. King adds that it was hidden in some bushes in a dark area. Police can’t say for sure yet whether the vehicle was targeted.
“It’s more like it was a stolen vehicle of opportunity and there happened to be a child in the back seat, but that’s speculation at this point,” says Corporal King.
RCMP Major Crimes has been brought in to help the North Battleford detachment with the investigation. The vehicle will be searched for evidence, and officers will proceed from there.
Written by Erica Fisher.
