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WEST JORDAN, Utah (AP) -- A 4-year-old girl who had been placed in the temporary custody of an aunt and uncle after being found wandering alone in West Valley City has been reunited with her mother, Evageline Collins.
Her stepfather, Carlos Collins, has been ordered to keep away from the child.
The girl was found wandering near Valley Fair Mall on Dec. 23. Carlos Collins, who faces a misdemeanor charge of child neglect, told police he fell asleep while the girl's mother was at work and the child wandered off. The girl told police he kicked her out.
The girl was first put in the custody of the Division of Child and Family Services, and 3rd District Juvenile Judge Elizabeth Lindsley later arranged for her to live with an aunt and uncle while the child's home situation was being evaluated.
Lindsley on Tuesday reunited the child with her mother, who is not now living with her husband and has gotten a protective order against him.
Evageline Collins has temporary custody of her daughter and will receive interim protective services from DCFS.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
