Little girl, five, is FOUND 12 days after her alleged kidnapping – after cops said she was “hidden by a despicable group”.
- Missing five-year-old Grace Hughes was found in good physical condition
- She disappeared while visiting mother Laura Hinks on Sunday
- Police arrested a 50-year-old woman on trial in Darwin on Monday
- Authorities believed Grace was being actively hidden by a group of people
- Actions by the group allegedly responsible for the kidnapping are ‘selling false information’
Five-year-old girl Grace Hughes, who has been missing for 12 days, has been found safe and well.
Just after 2pm on Friday, Northern Territory Police released a statement saying they had located Grace and her mother, Laura Hinks.
The couple have been missing since August 7, when Grace was allegedly abducted from the Berrimah area of east Darwin.
The mother and daughter disappeared after a supervised visit from parents when Ms Hinks, 34, left an address on Hidden Valley Road around 1pm.
Grace Hughes and her mother Laura Hinks, also known as Laura Bolt, (pictured) were found safe and sound on Friday
Police say Grace is undergoing a medical check but is in good physical condition.
Her mother, Ms. Hinks, is currently assisting the police in their investigation.
During the search for the missing girl, Northern Territory Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Jon Beer said the group that kidnapped Grace continued to “spread ideologies and false information”.
Police have stepped up their efforts to reunite the little girl (pictured) with her “legal guardian” and will focus their efforts on those allegedly responsible
Just days after her disappearance, police appealed to people they believed were working to actively hide Grace.
NT Police said Saturday they had charged a 50-year-old woman in connection with Grace’s disappearance.
She appeared in court in Darwin on Monday on charges of kidnapping a child under 16 and a charge of attempting to kidnap a child under 16.
The woman allegedly refused to provide information to the police to locate the girl and her mother.