A three-year-old girl, who went missing in a southern Texas resort town earlier this year, has been returned to her father after five months.
Rilee Crouch was last seen in South Padre Island on July 5, when her father, Dakota Crouch, dropped her off at her mother Lillian Maria Crouch’s home. The couple was reportedly embroiled in a custodial dispute.
When Dakota returned to pick up Rilee two days later, both she and her mother were gone, according to officials.
It has since been revealed that Lillian took Rilee to Panama as part of a plan to flee to Turkey, according to Rilee’s paternal grandmother, who spoke with ValleyCentral.
On Sunday night, December 29, Lillian and Rilee, 29, arrived back in Texas, escorted by U.S. marshals from Panama City. Lillian was arrested at the airport for interference with child custody.
Rilee has since been safely returned to her father, confirmed South Padre Island spokesperson Angelique Soto to KRGV.
Details on how Rilee was located in Panama have not been disclosed.
The South Padre Island community had held rallies over the summer, seeking public help in finding Rilee.
In August, Dakota Crouch expressed his ongoing search for his daughter: “Wherever you are, Rilee, know that I’m fighting for you. I love you, and I’m not ever going to give up on you. I’m still here, and I’ll see you soon,” he told ValleyCentral.
Dakota said that when he tried to contact Lillian, her phone would go straight to voicemail, and her attorneys in the custody case withdrew due to their inability to reach her.
“This was the third time she denied me visitations,” Dakota said. “She had already been warned by the judge to stop, and this time it took a turn for the worse. She became impossible to locate.”
At the time, Dakota feared that Lillian and Rilee might have crossed into Mexico, as Lillian holds dual citizenship.
