A missing three-year-old girl has been safely returned to her father after vanishing from a southern Texas resort town over the summer.
Little Rilee Crouch was last seen on July 5 in South Padre Island, when her father, Dakota Crouch, dropped her off at her mother’s home.
At the time, the couple was in the middle of a heated custodial battle.
However, when Dakota returned to pick up his daughter two days later, both Rilee and her mother, Lillian Maria Crouch, were gone.
Mother’s Plan to Flee the Country
It was later revealed that Lillian had taken Rilee out of the country, planning to flee to Turkey.
According to Rilee’s grandmother, the pair had traveled to Panama.
On Sunday night, after months of searching, both Lillian and Rilee were brought back to Texas by U.S. marshals.
They had been escorted from Panama City, and Lillian was arrested upon arrival at the airport for interfering with child custody.
Rilee Returns Home to Her Father
After being returned to Texas, Rilee was handed back to her father.
South Padre Island spokesperson Angelique Soto confirmed that the toddler had been reunited with Dakota.
While the authorities have not disclosed how they tracked the pair down to Panama, it was a significant relief for the South Padre Island community, which had rallied over the summer to help locate Rilee.
Father’s Plea for Help
Throughout the ordeal, Dakota expressed his anguish and frustration.
In August, he told ValleyCentral, “Wherever you are, Rilee, know that I’m fighting for you.
I love you, and I’m not ever going to give up on you. I’m still here, and I’ll see you soon.”
During this time, Dakota struggled to reach his ex-wife.
Lillian’s phone would go straight to voicemail, and even her lawyers had withdrawn from the case after failing to contact her.
Dakota had repeatedly reported that this was not the first time Lillian had denied him visitation rights.
Concerns Over the Case and Lack of Amber Alert
Dakota had expressed concern that his ex-wife and daughter might have fled to Mexico, given that Lillian held dual citizenship.
He had also voiced his frustration over the police’s decision not to issue an Amber Alert, as parental abductions during custody disputes are often considered civil matters.
The case had drawn significant attention, with many questioning the handling of the situation by local authorities.
A Small Resort Town’s Ongoing Search
South Padre Island, a small resort town with a population of about 2,000, had been a focal point of the search for Rilee.
Community rallies had been held over the summer in an effort to locate the missing girl.
Now, thanks to the tireless efforts of law enforcement and the support of the local community, Rilee has been safely returned to her father’s care.