YORK COUNTY, Pa. — State Police are searching for a woman who allegedly kidnapped a child in a vehicle from the Royal Farms gas station in Springettsbury Township on Sunday, causing an Amber Alert to be issued.
Authorities say Maria McKenzie, 27, is wanted on charges of kidnapping, theft by unlawful taking, and false imprisonment, among other related charges.
On June 5 around 3:20 p.m., police responded to the Royal Farms gas station in the 3300 block of Concord Road in Springettsbury Township for a report of a vehicle being stolen with a child still inside.
Authorities say that the child's mother reported her silver 2005 Suzuki SUV was stolen from the parking lot of the gas station with the child still inside. According to the criminal complaint, the victim told police that she did leave the keys in the vehicle with the engine running.
After an investigation, police were able to positively identify McKenzie with assistance from her father. Authorities say she entered the Suzuki and drove the vehicle from the parking lot before last being seen traveling east on Route 30.
Police say that McKenzie was known to have associates in the Kensington area of Philadelphia, and the stolen vehicle was seen in the 700 block of East Clearfield Street around 6 p.m.
According to the criminal complaint, the vehicle was parked with the child inside and McKenzie fled the scene on foot.
“To have a 2-year-old taken from the township, it’s an absolute fear we go through all the time," Springettsbury Township Police Chief Todd King said. “It’s something you never want to face. So when we found her and she was safe, it couldn’t have been a better feeling.”
McKenzie is described as standing 5'6" tall and weighing 100 pounds. She has blonde hair and blue eyes. McKenzie was last seen wearing a brown jacket.
A warrant has now been issued for her arrest.