Deputies have found a baby girl who went missing from her grandmother’s home Friday, officials confirmed.
The 3-week-old infant, Anissa Von Goerlitz, is in the middle of a family custody issue, according to the sheriff's department.
The incident started around 11:15 a.m. at the 10600-block of Vine Street. Officials immediately began searching for the baby’s aunt, Deborah Ann Fowler, 46 (pictured right), who allegedly took the baby from her grandmother’s house in Spring Valley without permission.
A sheriff’s deputy told NBC 7 Fowler is the twin sister of the infant’s mother.
Officials say Fowler lives at home with her mother, who’s also the baby’s grandmother, and had been helping take care of the baby. It is unclear where the baby's biological mother is at this point.
This morning, Fowler allegedly took an SUV from the home without permission and took the baby, officials said.
San Diego Sheriff’s Sgt. Greg Hampton told NBC 7 the SUV was found abandoned off Vine Street in Lakeside. Deputies focused their search in the area since that's where the vehicle was found.
Deputies searched surrounding transient camps for traces of Fowler or the child all afternoon.
Sgt. Hampton says witnesses told officials they had seen Fowler in the area within the past few hours, but had not been able to tell deputies if Fowler was with the baby.
Deputies also found a stroller near the scene.
Sgt. Hampton said officials did not believe the aunt wanted to harm the child, but deputies just wanted to bring the baby back home safe and sound.
“We want to make sure the child is safe,” said Sgt. Hampton. “No 3-week-old baby should be in an area like this. We don’t believe [Fowler] is intending to do any harm, but we don’t know her ultimate motives.”
Deputies from Lemon Grove and Santee assisted in the ground search, as well as Border Patrol agents and Search and Rescue volunteers. The Sheriff's Deparment helicopter ASTREA helped with an aerial search too.
At 7:50 p.m., sheriff's officials confirmed the baby and Fowler had been found by agents from the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) who were aiding in the search with a K-9 unit.
Officials say the aunt and infant were found inside the perimeter of the search area in Lakeside, west of Highway 67, south of Lakeside Drive near Channel Road.
Deputies say baby Anissa is not injured. Paramedics are evaluating her and she will be taken to a local hospital for a checkup.
Fowler has been detained for questioning. Deputies say she will be charged with vehicle theft and booked into Las Colinas Detention Facility. She could also face charges of child endangerment, pending the investigation, deputies said.