Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Sam Penrod reportingLeisa Hilton: "I AM VERY THANKFUL I DECIDED TO FOLLOW MY GUT INSTINCT, JUST THAT FEELING I HAD TO CALL THEM AND VERY THANKFUL SHE IS OKAY
A woman's intuition leads to the rescue of a five year old California girl, who today is reunited with her mother.
The girl and her abductor were stopped yesterday in the Central Utah town of Richfield -- and the suspect will soon be on his way back to California to face kidnapping charges.
48- year old Charles Mix was led into court this afternoon, after California prosecutors filed child abduction and kidnapping charges. Mix decided to give up his right to fight extradition to face charges in California.
Charles Mix/ Kidnapping Suspect: "I DON'T THINK THAT IS NECESSARY, I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE WAY YOU'VE EXPLAINED IT TO ME.
Mix is accused of abducting five year old AnnaBella Clark from her home in Riverside, California, where he was roommates with the girl's father. When she was reported missing, an Amber alert was issued throughout California.
"THOSE CHARGES ARE CHILD ABDUCTION, KIDNAPPING, AND KIDNAPPING WITH THE INTENT TO COMMIT SEXUAL ASSAULT."
Mix was arrested in Richfield yesterday, when a resident driving by this church parking lot noticed Mix and five year old Anna Bella Clark together. It seemed suspicious so she called police. Today she met with the girl's mother.
"Leisa Hilton/Called Police-- SHE WAS PRETTY EMOTIONAL, AND I'M SURE SHE IS STILL IN SHOCK OVER THE WHOLE THING, BUT VERY SWEET AND VERY THANKFUL.
The girl was in foster care, until Utah authorities decided to turn her over to her mother.
Richfield Police credit Leisa Hilton for helping this abduction case to have a happy ending.
Trent Lloyd, Richfield Police Dept.: SHE DID THE RIGHT THING, IT TAKES A BRAVE PERSON TO DO THAT, AND SHE WAS NERVOUS ABOUT DOING IT, SHE DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE WAS RIGHT OR WRONG, BUT SHE'S THE HERO HERE.
Leisa Hilton: "SOMETIMES ITS NOTHING, BUT SOMETIMES ITS SOMETHING AND IF IT SAVES A LIFE THEN GREAT"
Bail for Charles Mix has been set at 500- thousand dollars.
The girl is apparently headed back to California tonight in the custody of her mother.
