February 24, 2015
NJ State Police/Twitter
Police issued a multistate AMBER ALERT and the FBI got involved in the search for a Delaware girl who police say was abducted by her father and could be in a sport utility vehicle heading through New Jersey.
A father was arrested and charged Tuesday with kidnapping his 3-year-old daughter and taking her nearly 300 miles to Spencer, Massachusetts.
Police arrested Michael Trotta, 43, outside an apartment building at 3:30 p.m. Authorities said Elinor Trotta was found safe.
An Amber Alert was issued for Elinor overnight Tuesday after she was reportedly abducted by her father on Monday evening from her mother's home in New Castle County, Delaware. Police said Elinor was in “imminent danger.”
Elmer Setting, police chief in New Castle County, said Trotta was charged with reckless endangerment of a child and carjacking.
Trotta was in Massachusetts, police said, due to a "family connection."
The toddler will reunite with her mother, Dawn Barkus, on Tuesday evening in Massachusetts.
"It’s a different tone than this morning," Barkus said at a news conference this evening. "Today is my birthday and I prayed all day to God to get her back. This is the best birthday present ever."
According to 6ABC, Trotta was already wanted by Delaware authorities.
Authorities said earlier Tuesday that Trotta has warrants for his arrest stemming from a previous assault Feb. 15, involving Elinor's mother, and there are current warrants for his arrest stemming from Monday, which include reckless endangerment and carjacking.
New Castle County Police released a statement after the pair were located, reading in part: "After an intense and aggressive investigation, detectives were able to locate Elinor and are working to reunite her with her mother."
New Jersey State Police, Massachusetts State Police, Spencer Police and the FBI were also involved in the search.
An electronic sign on the New Jersey Turnpike on Tuesday morning warns motorists of the Amber Alert out on Elinor Trotta, 3, of New Castle County, Del. (PhillyVoice.com/Staff)
Authorities said the toddler was reportedly taken from the home where she lived with her mother shortly before 6:45 p.m. Monday after police responded to the home for a reported domestic assault, according to NBC 10.
Michael Trotta does not live at the home and is the ex-boyfriend of the child’s mother.
Setting said Trotta may face additional charges as the investigation continues.
