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[UPDATE] Amber Alert Cancelled After Delaware Girl Found Safe
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 24, 2015
Modified Feb 24, 2015
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By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 24, 2015
Modified Feb 24, 2015
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The FBI is involved in finding a three-year-old Delaware girl who police say was taken by her father after he assaulted her mother. They were last spotted in Mount Laurel, NJ and may be headed to New York City. Update: The Amber Alert has been cancelled as Elinor Trotta has been found safe in Massachusetts. More details below.
An NBC affiliate reports, "Police responded to a home on the 800 block of East Basin Road in New Castle, Delaware around 6:45 p.m. Monday for a report of a domestic assault. The woman told police her ex-boyfriend, 43-year-old Michael Trotta, came to the home, assaulted her and then took their 3-year-old daughter Elinor Trotta." Authorities say that Elinor is in "imminent danger"—"Police told NBC10 they believe the girl is in danger based on several statements her father made though they wouldn't elaborate on what those statements were."
According to WCPO, "Elinor Trotta is described as white, about 60 pounds, with brown shoulder length hair. She was last seen wearing a purple puffy coat, pink pants and "Frozen" sneakers. Michael Trotta is described as white, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs about 160 pounds. He is balding with a scruffy beard and mustache. Trotta was last seen wearing all black clothing."
Trotta initially fled with the girl in a 1989 gray Mazda 626 with Delaware plates, but police say the car was recovered. Now it's believed that he's driving a red-colored SUV, possibly a Ford Explorer.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911 immediately, the New Castle County Police Department at (302) 573-2800 or visit www.nccpd.com.
Update: The New Castle, DE police say, "After an intense and aggressive investigation, detectives were able to locate Elinor and are working to reunite her with her mother." Michael Trotta was taken into custody.
Tagged
ambert alert
elinor trotta
michael trotta
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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