Missing Girl from D.C. Found Safe in Arkansas After Abduction
By: Marci Manley, KARK 4 News
Updated: February 6, 2013
"I just kept kissing her and hugging her and telling her how much I loved her and missed her," said Ginny Morrison.
Morrison was able to lay eyes on her six-year-old granddaughter after six days of fearing for her safety.
"I'm happy she's safe I've seen her. I've hugged her. I've touched her," Morrison said with a smile.
Happiness is a far cry from what Eriona Birts' father was feeling in Washington, DC, on Tuesday afternoon.
"I miss you, I miss you so much. I miss you, and I love you," Eric Birts said in an interview with NBC's News4 on Tuesday afternoon as a message to his daughter.
According to DC police, Eriona's mother Ebony Anderson abducted the child on January 31, 2013. According to Eric Birts, Eriona was on a grocery store trip with her mother and never returned.
"Eriona asked if she could go too -- I said yeah sure -- I haven't seen her since," he said.
Anderson lives in Little Rock, and she is currently in the Pulaski County Jail. She turned herself into authorities Tuesday night once a critical missing person's alert was issued and D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department confirmed to Little Rock Police she was a wanted person.
"She [Anderson] loves her kids dearly," Morrison said. "It's just right now her lifestyle is not desirable for a child. We thought she was going to move up to D.C. so she could be closer to Eriona. But she had no intention of moving up there. She went up there to take her away."
Anderson is behind bars on a fugitive charge, but Eriona's family believes Anderson's boyfriend, Roderick Williams, played a major role in the abduction. According to Morrison and Birts, Anderson suffers from a medical condition that has blinded her. Williams was the one who drove her to D.C. and was serving as transportation during the trip in and out of the area.
He's wanted on a probation violation warrant and has eluded authorities so far.
"It's very concerning to me, and I think authorities will do what they need to do," Morrison said.
Arkansas Department of Human services is keeping custody of Eriona until it receives a certified copy of custody papers from her father.
"I'll do anything for you -- just hold in there -- Daddy's going to come get you okay," he said through tears on Tuesday.
And true to his word, Eric Birts is on the way to get his little girl.
Morrison was able to lay eyes on her six-year-old granddaughter after six days of fearing for her safety.
"I'm happy she's safe I've seen her. I've hugged her. I've touched her," Morrison said with a smile.
Happiness is a far cry from what Eriona Birts' father was feeling in Washington, DC, on Tuesday afternoon.
"I miss you, I miss you so much. I miss you, and I love you," Eric Birts said in an interview with NBC's News4 on Tuesday afternoon as a message to his daughter.
According to DC police, Eriona's mother Ebony Anderson abducted the child on January 31, 2013. According to Eric Birts, Eriona was on a grocery store trip with her mother and never returned.
"Eriona asked if she could go too -- I said yeah sure -- I haven't seen her since," he said.
Anderson lives in Little Rock, and she is currently in the Pulaski County Jail. She turned herself into authorities Tuesday night once a critical missing person's alert was issued and D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department confirmed to Little Rock Police she was a wanted person.
"She [Anderson] loves her kids dearly," Morrison said. "It's just right now her lifestyle is not desirable for a child. We thought she was going to move up to D.C. so she could be closer to Eriona. But she had no intention of moving up there. She went up there to take her away."
Anderson is behind bars on a fugitive charge, but Eriona's family believes Anderson's boyfriend, Roderick Williams, played a major role in the abduction. According to Morrison and Birts, Anderson suffers from a medical condition that has blinded her. Williams was the one who drove her to D.C. and was serving as transportation during the trip in and out of the area.
He's wanted on a probation violation warrant and has eluded authorities so far.
"It's very concerning to me, and I think authorities will do what they need to do," Morrison said.
Arkansas Department of Human services is keeping custody of Eriona until it receives a certified copy of custody papers from her father.
"I'll do anything for you -- just hold in there -- Daddy's going to come get you okay," he said through tears on Tuesday.
And true to his word, Eric Birts is on the way to get his little girl.
