Abducted Missouri newborn found !!

[BlackSheep]

An abducted newborn girl was found alive Tuesday and appeared to be well at a hospital, according to the doctor who treated her. A woman was arrested, according to broadcast reports.

Dr. Peter McCarthy, an emergency room physician at St. John's Hospital in Washington, Mo., said 11-day-old Abigale Lynn Woods has been reunited with her mother, father and other relatives.

"The family is elated and thankful to everyone in the community who prayed for them," McCarthy said. "The baby was hydrated, nourished and in good condition when she arrived at the hospital."

Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke told KSDK-TV in St. Louis on Tuesday evening that the baby was found alive in an abandoned house near Lonedell, not far from where the crime occurred. Toelke said a woman has been arrested.

The sheriff's department refused to confirm the reports when contacted by The Associated Press. A news conference was scheduled.

The child's mother, 21-year-old Stephenie Ochsenbine, told police Friday a woman entered her rural home, attacked her with a knife and stole the baby, who was a week old at the time.

Police had received more than 500 leads in the investigation. On Tuesday, they gave the baby's father, James Woods, a polygraph test, which he passed.

Earlier in the day, officials intensified the search around the family's home near the town of Lonedell, blocking off highways and roads leading to the residence. A helicopter circled above the home, search dogs were brought in and divers planned to search two small ponds.

Robert Bardot, who owns property near Ochsenbine's home, said FBI agents contacted him and asked to search houses on nearby properties he owns. He said that agents searched the same properties Sunday, and that he wasn't sure why they were returning.

The abductor has been profiled as someone who had a child die recently or as someone who could not have children, told people she was pregnant and needed to steal a child so her lie would not be found out.

[Angel]

I love happy endings! What a relief for the family.

[sunflower]

[Penn]

That is a great ending!

It's hard to imagine the anguish and pain that poor mother must been enduring.

Thank God the baby was unharmed.

[Geek]

Thank God

I am also glad for the happy ending.

[jwwb2000]

That is wonderful!

[mkd20012001]

Thank goodness. I was so happy to see this thread this morning.

[Warron]

>>Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke told KSDK-TV in St. Louis on Tuesday evening that the baby was found alive in an abandoned house near Lonedell, not far from where the crime occurred. Toelke said a woman has been arrested.<<

Recent news articles say the baby was turned over to police by the sister in law of the woman who abducted the baby after she noticed the birthmark on the babies forehead and questioned the woman.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/09/19/bab...ing/index.html