Video: Man arrested after missing 10-year-old found in his Rotterdam home
Police in Rotterdam arrested a man after a missing 10-year-old girl, who likely spent the night at his home, was found early Sunday inside the residence on the Blekerslaan in Rotterdam-Feijenoord, hours after authorities issued an Amber Alert. Police have not disclosed any relationship between the man and the girl. The man, the resident of the home, was arrested on suspicion of unlawfully removing a minor from parental authority, police said, adding there are currently no indications of other crimes.
The girl, identified as Wendy, was reported missing Saturday afternoon after she left her home on the Paul Krugerstraat around 1 p.m. to go to her parents’ shop on the Hilledijk but never arrived. Police issued an Amber Alert overnight, citing concerns that she could be in life-threatening danger, partly due to the cold winter weather.
A police spokeswoman said Wendy was located Sunday morning after a nearby resident recognized the girl while she was walking a dog and contacted authorities. “Sunday morning we received a tip from an attentive local resident who had seen the girl,” the spokeswoman said. “That is how we located her.”
The woman told broadcaster Rijnmond that she brought Wendy inside, gave her a sandwich and called police. She lives a few houses away from the home where Wendy likely spent the night.
Police searched the man’s home, which was later sealed, and removed a black dog from the residence. According to a neighbor, the man said he took Wendy inside because she was cold.
Authorities said the home is not on Wendy’s expected route to her parents’ shop. Wendy was found in good health, checked by ambulance personnel and reunited with her parents before being taken to a police station to explain what happened. Police deployed search dogs and drones during the overnight search and said the investigation is ongoing.
