New York Girl, Missing Since 2019, Found Alive In Secret Room

SAUGERTIES, NY — Paislee Shultis, who disappeared more than two years ago at age 4, was found alive this week at a home in Saugerties, according to multiple reports.

Authorities said they found the girl in a secret makeshift room under a closed staircase leading to the basement, CBS New York reported.

Paislee disappeared in July 2019 from her home in Cayuga Heights in Tompkins County. At the time, authorities believed she had been abducted by her non-custodial parents, Kimberly Cooper and Kirk Shultis Jr., according to reports.

When police questioned Shultis Jr., he told investigators that Paislee's biological mother had fled to Pennsylvania and he had not seen the child since, Albany news station WRGB reported.

The case quickly went cold. However, Saugerties police obtained a warrant on Valentine's Day to search a home on Fawn Road after receiving a tip that Paislee possibly was being held there, NBC New York reported.

After searching the home for more than an hour, police found Paislee in the dark, wet enclosure. Cooper was also found in the room with the little girl, according to NBC.

Paislee, now 6 years old, was examined by paramedics and was determined to be in good health. She was released to her legal guardian and reunited with her older sister, according to police.

Both Cooper and Kirk Shultis Jr., along with Kirk Shultis Sr., now face charges in the case, according to NBC. Cooper was arrested on charges including custodial interference and endangering the welfare of a child; while Shultis Jr. and Shultis Sr. were charged with felony custodial interference and misdemeanor child endangerment.