Photo: ap/shutterstock. inset Saugerties Police Department
A 6-year-old girl who has been missing since 2019 has been found alive under a basement staircase in her grandfather’s home in upstate New York, according to authorities.
Cooper and Paislee’s father, Kirk Shultis Jr., 32, were believed to have abducted their daughter in central New York state at the time of her disappearance, according to the Saugerties Police Department.The Daily Freemanreported that police obtained a warrant after receiving information that the girl was being hidden in a home in Saugerties.
Saugerties police detectives, officers, state police detectives and troopers descended on the home around 8 p.m. on Monday,ABC7NYreported. The owner, Kirk Shultis, 57 – Paislee’s grandfather – allegedly told police that he had not seen Paislee since 2019 and had no idea she was being kept under the staircase.
Kimberly Cooper and Kirk Shultis.Saugerties, NY, Police Department
Saugerties Det. Erik Thiele discovered the girl after he “noticed something about the staircase leading from the back of the residence into the basement of the house that caught his attention,” Saugerties Police Chief Joseph Sinagra toldCBS New York. After officers removed several of the wooden panels on the staircase, they reportedly saw “little feet.”
According to reports, the parents were scheduled to lose custody of Paislee and her older sister at the time they allegedly abducted Paislee. The sister was at school on the day of the alleged abduction and was placed in the care of a legal guardian.
Saugerties Police Department
Sinagra toldThe Daily Freemanthat Paislee appeared to be in good health when she was found. She was then released to the custody of her legal guardian and reunited with her sister at an undisclosed location. The little girl recognized her big sister, police said.
Cooper was charged with custodial interference and endangering the welfare of a child, both misdemeanors. She had an active warrant issued through Ulster County Family Court and is being held at Ulster County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail, The Daily Freeman reported.
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Shultis Jr. was charged with felony custodial interference and the misdemeanor of endangering the welfare of a child. Shultis Sr. was charged with felony custodial interference and endangering the welfare of a child, which is a misdemeanor.
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It was not immediately clear if the trio have engaged legal representation to comment on their belief.
They are scheduled to appear in Saugerties Town Court at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
