Little girl found safe

Photo: The Canadian Press

RCMP in Saskatchewan issued an Amber Alert for a six-year-old girl who they say was in the back of her family's SUV, shown in an RCMP handout photo, when it was stolen outside a strip mall in North Battleford.

UPDATE: 11:30 a.m.

RCMP say they have yet to identify any suspects in a car theft that led to an Amber Alert in Saskatchewan.

The alert was issued after police say six-year-old Emma O'Keeffe was left in the back of her parents' running SUV and it was stolen from outside a strip mall in North Battleford Sunday night.

The child was found almost 14 hours later still inside the SUV, which had been left about two kilometres from where it had been taken and was noticed by some workers who called 911.

Cpl. Rob King said the child was checked out at hospital and then reunited with her family.

King says the focus of the investigation remains on who was responsible for taking the vehicle and not why the child was left alone in a running car in the first place.

"We don't know what happened from when the car was taken to when the car was found. We don't know the direction of travel. We don't know where it travelled. We don't know how many people were in the car at the time while it was driving around," King said Monday.

"It's more like it was a stolen vehicle of opportunity and there happened to be a child in the back seat, but that is speculation at this point."

Emma is autistic, epileptic and non-verbal and her mother had said she needed medication to control her condition.

UPDATE 6:50 a.m.

The RCMP has cancelled an Amber Alert for a six-year-old Saskatchewan girl who was in the back of her family's sport-utility vehicle when it was stolen in North Battleford.

Police say Emma O'Keeffe, who is autistic, epileptic and non-verbal, was found safe within the city of North Battleford around 6:45 a.m. Monday, more than 12 hours after the SUV was taken from in front of a strip mall.

The child is now receiving medical care.

Police have not released any other details about the girl's condition.

The child's parents had recorded a video that was released overnight on the Saskatchewan RCMP's Facebook site in which they pleaded with her alleged abductor for her safe return.

Her mother, Alison, said Emma needs her medication to control her severe epilepsy.

RCMP said the girl was in the back of the SUV when it was stolen.

The vehicle was taken Sunday around 5 p.m. after the girl's mother left it running and went inside, according to police.

UPDATE 6:23 a.m.

RCMP has cancelled an Amber Alert for a missing six-year-old Saskatchewan girl.

Police say the child was found safe within North Battleford around 6:45 Monday morning.

The child is now receiving medical care.

MORE COMING

ORIGINAL 5:09 a.m.

The family of a six-year-old girl from Saskatchewan who is the subject of an Amber Alert is pleading with her alleged abductor for a safe return.

Police issued an Amber Alert on Sunday night for Emma O'Keeffe, a girl with autism who is non-verbal and who her parents say needs medication for severe epilepsy.

RCMP say the girl was in the back of her family's SUV when it was stolen outside a strip mall in North Battleford.

Her father says in a video posted to the RCMP's Facebook page they know the abductor didn't do this on purpose and just want her back.

RCMP say the vehicle was taken Sunday at around 5 p.m. after the girl's mother left it running and went into a business in the strip mall.

The suspect is believed to be driving a dark grey 2010, Mercedes Benz GL350 Bluetec SUV with Saskatchewan license plate 897 HMX.

"We just want her home so please bring her back or just call someone and let her know where she is," the girl's mother said.