JACKSON TWP. – Local, state and federal authorities have found a 5-year-old girl who left a store Thursday night with her 36-year-old neighbor and hadn't been seen since.
An Amber Alert was issued for Ana Grace Burke, of Jackson Township, just after 2 p.m. Friday.
It was canceled 9:52 p.m. Friday after she reportedly was found in Bloomington, Illinois, authorities say.
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The child's grandmother, Cindy Ungart, told the Canton Repository just after 10 p.m. that Jonathan Lee Stinnett, a suspect in the case, had pulled over alongside the highway to take a nap, and someone noticed the vehicle and reported it.
'She's safe, she's safe!': Ana Grace Burke found unharmed
"She's safe, she's safe!" Ungart rejoiced. She added that she comes from a family of truckers and had contacted about eight trucking companies since the girl's disappearance.
Ungart told the Canton Repository that Burke was being checked out, but was unharmed.
Suspect arrested by police for felony kidnapping and abduction
According to Jackson Township police, Stinnett, of Jackson Township, was taken into custody on warrants for felony kidnapping and abduction. He was booked into the Mclean County Jail in Illinois.
Stinnett is expected to be brought back to Stark County to face charges.
Where were Ana Grace and Jonathan Lee Stinnett last seen?
Police said Stinnett and Ana Grace were last seen at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, at the Goodwill store at 7257 Fulton Drive NW across the street from the Jackson Township Police Department.
Stinnett and another person with whom he lived were inside Goodwill when Stinnett said he was taking the girl to the restroom at the McDonald's across the parking lot from the store. Stinnett never returned with the child, leaving the person he was with behind.
He and the other individual were watching Ana Grace for the parents at the time, according to a 911 call made by the family.
Stinnett is the child's neighbor at the Quail Hollow Apartments, according to the family's 911 call and missing-person report.
“We just want our daughter back,” the mother’s boyfriend told police dispatchers during a 911 call.
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The girl was reported missing to police at 7:33 p.m.
According to the child’s parents during the 911 call, Stinnett and the person he was with were set to move out of their apartment and back to Michigan this weekend.
At 8 p.m. Friday, township police also released three photos of the suspect and vehicle that were taken in and outside a store in Knox County.
Why wasn't an Amber Alert immediately issued?
Police issued a news release about 11:40 p.m. Thursday regarding the missing girl and man, followed by an endangered child advisory — not an Amber Alert — at 12:20 a.m. Friday.
Jackson Township Police Major Jim Monigold said an Amber Alert was requested but did not meet the criteria at the time because there was no known threat to the child. It was unclear what circumstances changed prompting the Amber Alert Friday afternoon.
Police also had spoken with the child’s biological father.
The FBI, Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children are assisting Jackson Township police with the investigation.
According to the news release, Stinnett and Ana Grace reportedly were in a silver 1991 Ford Aerostar SW (a station wagon) with Michigan license plates EHL7187.
Friday afternoon, Ana Grace's family members were seen outside of Goodwill, holding a missing person flyer with the child's photo. The child's family declined to speak at the time.
Includes reporting by staff writer Benjamin Duer.
Reach Cassandra at [email protected]; Twitter @Cassienist
