Girl Taken By Mom Found Unharmed In Michigan

OAK PARK, IL — Zoe Stegmeyer, 6, was found unharmed with her mother in Michigan Tuesday evening. Stegmeyer had been missing since Saturday, when her mother, Wendy Jarvis, took her during a court-supervised visit.

The girl’s father, Josh Stegmeyer, headed to Michigan once he found out of Zoe’s whereabouts.

Jarvis will be extradited to Illinois.

Illinois State Police had issued a national call for help finding the 6-year-old girl Monday after she went missing after a court-supervised visit at a restaurant with her mother in Oak Park Saturday. The mother, Wendy E. Jarvis, 41, of the 1100 block of S. Blvd. in Oak Park, reportedly fled with her child, Zoe Stegmeyer, through the back door of the restaurant.

Zoe had been living in Schiller Park with her father, Josh Stegmeyer.

She was last seen with her mother, Wendy Jarvis, who is described as a 5'2" tall and about 144 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. Jarvis was last seen wearing a gray peacoat, a black knit cap and a green sweatshirt.

Police say the court visitation supervisor told them Jarvis said she was taking her daughter to use the restroom, but left through a rear door by way of the kitchen.

Police performed an extensive search of Jarvis's home and the surrounding area, but were not able to locate the mother and child. According to the village's release, Jarvis's parents live in Clarkston, Michigan, about 300 miles northeast of Oak Park. Jarvis was not known to have had access to a vehicle, police say.

According to Cook County Court documents, Jarvis and Stegmeyer have been involved in a lengthy battle for custody of Zoe.

Below is a post from Zoe's father, Joshua Stegmeyer.

>>Image courtesy of Village of Oak Park