About-Face On Charges For Newark Woman Found With Missing Girl: Police

NEWARK, NJ — Newark authorities have done an about-face on criminal charges for a woman allegedly found in the company of a missing local 8-year-old, announcing Thursday that the 51-year-old Newark resident is now facing endangerment charges.

On Thursday, Newark police arrested Rochelle Baskins – a reported “family friend” of the child – after officers found her with Nevaeh Blaine, 8, at Newark Penn Station.

Blaine was initially reported missing around 9:45 a.m. on July 16 from the Bradley Court Housing Community. The Newark Police Division and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office launched a search, and later that night around 11 p.m., “concerned citizens” found the eight-year-old girl at Penn Station with Baskins, authorities said.

Blaine was safely reunited with her family, police said.

Newark authorities initially announced earlier this week that although “many questions remained,” the “family friend” found in Blaine’s company wasn’t being charged with a crime.

There is no evidence that the child was mistreated or abused, police said.

• See related article: Woman Found With Missing Newark Girl, Not Charged With Crime

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Photo: NPD