Kehlani Rogers, 3, was found safe on Sunday after being reported missing from her Avondale home late on Feb. 20. Tips and surveillance footage led investigators to 23-year-old Marina Noriega, who was arrested after she and the child were located at a gas station. Noriega initially claimed to be the child’s mother, later recanting and saying she "made a mistake." She has been booked into the Maricopa County Jail as authorities continue their investigation.
3-Year-Old Found Safe After Parents Let Stranger Stay; Woman Arrested in Arizona
Kehlani Rogers (left); and surveillance video allegedly showing Mariana Noriega with Kehlani Rogers.Avondale AZ Police Department (2)
Avondale, Ariz. — A 3-year-old girl, Kehlani Rogers, was located safe on Sunday morning after she was reported missing late on Feb. 20, authorities said. The Avondale Police Department issued an Amber Alert and later confirmed the child was recovered and a suspect taken into custody.
How the Disappearance Unfolded
Kehlani's parents told investigators they had allowed a woman they described as a "random woman" into their home because she said she needed a place to stay. The next morning the parents awoke to find both the woman and their child gone, prompting an intensive search and the issuance of an Amber Alert.
Investigation and Arrest
Officials said tips and surveillance footage helped identify 23-year-old Marina Noriega as a person of interest. Court records cited by local outlet 12 News indicate a witness reported driving Noriega and the child to the City of Maricopa, and that Noriega allegedly mentioned plans to take a train to California. Investigators reviewed surveillance video from a business in Maricopa that they say showed Noriega with the child.
Mariana Noriega.Avondale AZ Police Department/Facebook
Avondale police said Noriega and Kehlani were later sighted in Phoenix and were found together at a gas station on Sunday morning. During questioning, Noriega initially told officers she was the child’s mother, then recanted and said she had "made a mistake," according to court documents. She has denied any plan to sell or harm the child, investigators said.
Current Status
Avondale police said Noriega will be booked into the Maricopa County Jail system on charges related to the incident. The county jail confirmed she has been booked; however, police told reporters they were unable to immediately disclose the specific charges.
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Authorities continue to piece together the timeline and circumstances that led to Kehlani being taken from the home. No additional details about the relationship between Noriega and the family have been released.
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