A woman has been handed an international parental kidnapping charge after allegedly abducting her infant daughter from the child's father's home in Orange Beach last week and then fleeing the country to Mexico.
Haley Harris, 23, and the father had agreed to a two-day visitation period, but shortly after picking the child up, the two boarded a plane bound for San Diego, Calif., with prearranged travel plans also made for south of the border.
According to a news report, Harris was taken into custody after agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security carried out a raid on a Mexican residence, resulting in the rescue of the child and her capture. Harris was tracked through her "digital footprint" from California to Mexico by the Baldwin County Sheriff's digital forensic team.
Since her arrest, Harris has been brought back to the U.S. She is scheduled for a hearing in Atlanta on Monday.
Harris' daughter remains in Mexico, with the country's government currently refusing to send her back to Alabama. Both federal and state-level law enforcement officials are involved in the effort to bring the child home.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every day.
