Relief and pure joy for a family reunited with their 3-year-old daughter who was snatched from her car seat Sunday night. Local police say the missing toddler was found in a field Monday morning about twelve hours later in fairly good condition. But a suspect still hasn't been identified and left only this bike behind. Leading authorities to believe the suspect might be local and preyed on this girl by chance.
"We have nothing to tell us otherwise at this point so until we find the suspect and if he talks to us and tells us why he did what he did then we're going to have to go with what we believe which is a total stranger," said Fresno Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Jose Salinas.
Raquel Vargas has been neighbors with the victim and her family for nearly ten years. She tells us it was a terrible night for everyone and they're still scared tonight.
(Translation) "It's very scary. A lot of sadness that these things are happening and that the child is so little. The little girl of 3 years old, it's just sad and also irritating to see so much meanness – this little girl is so small and defenseless," said Raquel Vargas.
The mother of the child was questioned by police Monday along with other family members and witnesses.
"The detectives who talked to her said she was real distraught during the night. By the morning she was very relieved we took her over to the scene to be reunited with her child," said Salinas.
The three-year-old was taken to a hospital but authorities won't comment if she was a victim of sexual assault.
The FBI and Crimestoppers are offering a reward for anyone with information leading to the arrest of the suspect.
