A 3-year-old South Florida girl who was missing for more than a year after allegedly being kidnapped by her mother was reunited with her father Tuesday.
Lilly and Robert Baumann were reunited in Sunrise, a day after 23-year-old Megan Elizabeth Everett was arrested in north Florida.
"I was shocked, I really didn't know what to say, I thought it was so surreal," Robert Baumann said.
Everett was wanted for kidnapping the 2-year-old Lilly in May 2014 out of Sunrise. Her case was featured on CNN's "The Hunt with John Walsh" over the weekend and a tip from the public led investigators to her location in Palatka, FBI officials said.
"You know, John Walsh put the show on last night and I couldn't imagine that in less than 24 hours they would have found her after a year and a half of searching for her," Baumann said.
Baumann, who has joint custody of the child, went to pick her up at Everett's home last May but Everett had disappeared, he said. Baumann said he and Everett constantly argued because Everett refused to vaccinate Lilly.
Everett was being held without bond Tuesday and is facing several charges including kidnapping and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. It's unknown if she's hired an attorney.
Local
Baumann said he was just glad to have his daughter back in his arms.
"It's going to be a long, tough road but like I said, it's going to end up being ok," he said. "You know, she is going to be safe now so that's all that matters to me."
