Woman Found With Missing Essex County Girl, Not Charged With Crime: Police

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Authorities say that a woman who allegedly took an eight-year-old Essex County girl from a playground – setting off a frantic police search until her safe recovery on Sunday evening – has not been charged with a crime, although “many questions remain unanswered.”

The woman, a “family friend,” was allegedly last seen leaving a playground in the area of Maybaum and Tremont Avenues in Newark on Sunday with Nevaeh Blaine, 8, police stated.

Blaine was reported missing around 9:45 a.m. on Sunday and recovered safely at Newark Penn Station around 11 p.m.

After being found, Neveah was taken to a local hospital to be examined as a precautionary measure and is “fine,” authorities stated Monday.

• See related article: Missing Girl, 8, Found Safe At Penn Station

Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said that “the cooperative efforts of New Jersey Transit Police and citizens” helped to find Blaine and return her to her family unharmed.

Newark police issued the following statement about the investigation on Monday:

“Newark detectives are working with the Essex County Prosecutor's Office to determine whether the woman found with the child or anyone else will be charged in connection with this investigation. Many questions remain unanswered about exactly what transpired between the time she was reported missing and she was found, although there is no evidence that the child was mistreated or abused.”

Anyone with additional information about the incident can call the department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867).

Photo: Newark Department of Public Safety

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