‘Our hearts are full again’: family grateful, relieved
Missing girl found safe Monday as Amber Alert prompts large search
SASKATOON When an Amber Alert was issued for six-year-old Emma O’keeffe on Sunday afternoon, North Battleford and surrounding communities sprang into action, according to the city’s mayor.
The girl, who has both autism and epilepsy, went missing Sunday around 5 p.m. when RCMP say an “unknown” suspect reportedly stole a running, unlocked Mercedes SUV from outside a strip mall at 11204 Railway Ave. North. Emma was in the back seat at the time.
RCMP issued an Amber Alert around 7:15 p.m. and family members took to Facebook to ask for help in locating the car carrying the child, who is non-verbal and cannot walk.
Around 6:45 a.m. on Monday, RCMP reported O’keeffe had been found safe in the stolen vehicle, two kilometres away from where it had been taken.
“Words cannot express our emotions right now,” said Alison O’keeffe, Emma’s mother, in a Facebook post on Monday afternoon.
“Emma is safe at home sleeping soundly, peacefully, surrounded by all the love in the world,” she continued. “The relief is indescribable. We need to thank every single person that was out looking for her, sending messages of love and prayer and every emergency member that dedicated many hours to help find Emma.”
In the post, she said the community and “all of Canada” came to her daughter’s rescue following what RCMP say was a crime of opportunity.
“We are beyond grateful. We have an amazing support system here and Patrick and I appreciate every single one of you. Our hearts are full again.”
Previous posts by the girl’s mother were shared thousands of times, prompting people from across Canada to send messages of support.
North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater said the response to the Amber Alert was symbolic of the strength of the region.
“The response from the community was nothing short of extraordinary,” he said. “Under the most horrific of circumstances, it was also beautiful.”
He said “hundreds of people” left their homes, grabbed flashlights and jumped in their cars to contribute to the “massive search.”
“There were people everywhere. There were police everywhere,” he said. “When I was out, I couldn’t believe it, just how many people had come out to be part of this search.”
He said the entire community is relieved that Emma was returned home safe.
RCMP Cpl. Rob King said the Amber Alert was effective, as the workers who called police to report the vehicle had recognized it from a description provided by police.
He declined to comment on whether the person who left the girl in the car unattended will be charged. King said RCMP are now searching for the suspect responsible for taking the SUV. No one had been taken into custody by press time.
“Today the focus was finding her and getting her back. The focus now shifts to finding who is responsible for taking the vehicle in the first place,” King said.