MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. — Police have found a 7-year-old girl taken from Muskegon Heights near St. Louis, Missouri.
Officers said two people are in custody, including the child's non-custodial mother Seaniece Johnson and a man investigators identified as her boyfriend, Robert Lomack.
Two additional suspects remain at large and have not yet been identified.
An extradition hearing is expected in Missouri this week.
If Johnson and Lomack waive extradition, investigators would have ten days to arrange for their transport to Muskegon County, according to Prosecutor DJ Hilson.
If they do not, investigators would be forced to navigate what is known as the governor's warrant process, which could prolong the ordeal for several months.
"The statute gives us 90 days to get that accomplished," Hilson related. "So, there's a big difference between being back here in Muskegon within 10 days, versus being back here in Muskegon within 90 days, and typically, especially in a case like this, the person is not going to get a bond per se, they're going to be sitting in jail."
Officials are working on reuniting the 7-year-old girl with her father, according to Muskegon Heights Police Chief Maurice Sain.
Elena Joyce Johnson was last seen in the 2800 block of 8th Street in Muskegon Heights. Police say Elena Joyce Johnson was forcibly taken from her father's home by her mother, Seaniece Johnson, with the help of three men.
"She showed up to my house yesterday with three armed men and they took my daughter and shot my dog, killed my dog," said Elena's father, Ernest Price.
The girl's family shared Wednesday that they are grateful for law enforcement and the community's help in finding her.
"We are working on getting her back to Michigan now as we speak, and we want to thank all news outlets that helped get the news out and Muskegon Heights police department and FBI for doing an awesome job...," they said in a statement.
"We are appreciative to everyone that helped and for all the prayers that got our baby back in safe hands."
Seaniece does not have custody of Elena, according to police.
Price said a court had given him full custody of the 7-year-old on June 1 and that Child Protective Services had been involved.
"If she wanted her daughter she should have done right by the courts and she would have had her," Price said. "I didn't take her from her. They gave her to me, because I'm her father. She couldn't properly do it. So I was rewarded custody. She was doing well. Happy, happy kid."
Police said Seaniece and the men were considered armed and dangerous, and said Elena was in danger.
Sain believes Seaniece was driving a tan "Yukon-type" vehicle. Police correctly believed that Seaniece was heading to the St. Louis, Missouri area earlier Tuesday and stopped her there.
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