Duarte told Madeline’s father earlier in the week she wanted to take their daughter to Texas but he refused, she told authorities. Madeline’s father left work and called 911 and reported that he believed the 3-year-old mother was taking her. Through a Spanish interpreter, the emotional father told the dispatcher his daughter was outside playing on a bike when she was taken, the 911 call shows. Later in an interview with Apopka police, the father said he believed the suspects were taking his daughter to Texas. He explained to investigators Madeline’s biological mother, Duarte, lives in Houston, Texas and believes she was involved, according to the report.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The couple at the center of an Amber Alert for a 3-year-old Apopka girl was transferred Thursday from Leon County to Orange County to face charges. Officers said Madeline Meija was taken Monday morning without force by her biological mother Tania Duarte, 19, and her mothers’ boyfriend Kevin Smith Olmedo-Velis, 19. Both 19-year-old suspects were booked into the Orange County Jail Thursday at 2:50 p.m.Police said Madeline’s father mislead officers at first, saying his daughter abducted by strangers from the front yard. Investigators said Lester Mejia was contacted by a relative while at work and informed him Duarte had taken the child. Officers said Mejia called 911 but authorities said Mejia was allegedly told by an unknown dispatcher there was no crime if the mother has the child.

Authorities originally said Madeline Mejia was forcefully taken from her home on Feb. 10. APOPKA, Fla. – Editor’s note: Authorities originally said Madeline Mejia was forcefully taken from her home on Feb. 10. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has booked two suspects into jail in connection with the abduction of a 3-year-old girl. [RELATED: Father, 3-year-old girl reunited after Amber Alert abduction | 3-year-old Apopka girl at center of Amber Alert found in Tallahassee]Mejia’s father told Apopka police the little girl was abducted from her front yard. The toddler was found safe on Interstate 10 in Tallahassee by Florida Highway Patrol troopers just hours after state law enforcement issued the Amber Alert.

The father of the 3-year-old girl, who Apopka police say was abducted from her front yard Monday morning, is thanking law enforcement officers who helped reunite him with his daughter. Madeline Mejia was found safe on Interstate 10 in Tallahassee by Florida Highway Patrol troopers hours after state law enforcement issued an Amber Alert. Madeline and her father, Lester Mejia, were reunited around 6:30 p.m. outside the Apopka Police Department. Mejia left his daughter outside their home for only a moment to grab his keys around 6 a.m. but ran back outside when he heard his daughter scream, police said. Madeline was found on Interstate 10 in Tallahassee by FHP troopers who recognized the vehicle form the Amber Alert.

A 3-year-old girl who was at the center of an Amber Alert after being abducted outside her Apopka home has been located in Tallahassee, according to police. Apopka police said Madeline Mejia was found on Interstate 10 in Tallahassee by law enforcement officials who saturated the area after the Amber Alert was issued Monday morning. Thanks to our law enforcement partners and everyone else who helped to swiftly and successfully resolve this AMBER Alert! [PHOTO BELOW: Suspect vehicle in Apopka Amber Alert]Police find suspect vehicle in Apopka Amber alert. The Amber Alert was officially canceled a short time after she was found.