Mint Hill girl, 3, found safe; mom arrested in Texas, police say

MINT HILL, N.C. — A missing 3-year-old girl has been found safe and her mom has been arrested by U.S. Marshals, a source confirmed to Channel 9.

Kelsi Lyn Hochstetler, 30, was arrested in Ana, Texas, which is northwest of the Plano and Dallas area.

An Amber Alert was issued Thursday night for the girl. She was believed to be with her mom and was last seen on Dan Hood Road in Mint Hill.

The girl’s father called the Mint Hill Police Department at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday to say he thought his daughter was missing and possibly in danger, police said.

Kelsi Hochstetler has primary custody and is separated from the girl‘s father, police said. The father was scheduled to see his daughter on June 19 but Hochstetler did not show up, police said.

They last spoke by telephone on June 19, police said. The dad told police that the last time he physically saw his daughter was on June 11.

“After conducting research and speaking with extended family members it was determined that nobody has heard from the mother in almost two weeks,” Mint Hill police said in a news release.

Hochstetler was charged with felony child abduction and felony second-degree kidnapping, police said.

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