COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Amber Alert narrowly avoided issuance as police in Kentucky discovered a missing 5-year-old girl from Fairfield County, Ohio, following a morning fire.

Search and Discovery

The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a missing child at a residence on Pleasantville Road NE in Richland Township. Emergency personnel were already on site due to a reported fire earlier that morning.

Court documents revealed that the girl’s father reported her missing, stating she was last seen before bedtime. Upon waking to a fire, he discovered both his daughter and a male acquaintance missing.

Manhunt and Interception

Law enforcement initiated a search for the man, identified as 38-year-old John Beckman, who had no known connection to the child. Kentucky State Police intercepted his vehicle on I-65 South near Elizabethtown, where the girl was found unharmed.

Beckman, with a history of criminal offenses including breaking and entering and substance abuse, faces a recommended bond of $2 million.

Ongoing Investigation

Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire and the events leading to the girl’s disappearance. Additional charges may be pursued pending further investigation and presentation to a grand jury.

Safety Ensured, Investigation Continues

While the immediate danger has passed with the safe recovery of the missing child, the incident prompts further scrutiny into the events surrounding the fire and abduction. Law enforcement’s swift action underscores the importance of collaboration across state lines in ensuring the safety of vulnerable individuals. The ongoing investigation will seek to provide clarity and justice in this troubling case.

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