Missing 4-Year-Old Ohio Girl Is Found
NBC 4
A nationwide search for a fugitive sex offender, a mother and her child ends in California late Tuesday.
SAN DIEGO—Authorities found a 4-year-old girl whom police thought was traveling with a convicted sex offender.
NBC 4 has been on this story for almost a month and has an update.
The search for a missing 4-year-old girl from Crestline, Ohio, ended Tuesday.
Haylee Elizabeth Jade Donathan was found safe and sound on the other side of the country, according to officials.
Law-enforcement officials found Haylee Tuesday afternoon at a Christian retreat in San Diego, Calif.
Apparently, a couple recognized the girl’s face from a billboard and called authorities.
Authorities issued an endangered missing child advisory for Haylee Monday, June 8.
Haylee was seen last in Crestline Thursday, May 28.
She was with her mother, 24-year-old Candace K. Watson, and her mother’s boyfriend, 27-year-old Robbi Douglas Potter.
Potter is a Tier 3 sex offender. He recently was released from prison and was living at a halfway house after being convicted of sexual battery with a minor. Potter had warrants out for his arrest.
Watson, Potter and Haylee were in San Diego for about a week and both Watson and Potter altered their appearances, officials said.
They still were driving the same vehicle as when they left Ohio: The couple was believed to be driving a 1988 blue or black Chevy pick-up truck with a 30-day tag.
That was the same information that went out with the endangered missing child advisory.
Officials said Haylee is safe and currently in the custody of child protective services.
Haylee soon will be headed home to Ohio and into her grandmother’s custody, officials said.
Potter was to be charged with violating parole and escape.
Watson was to be charged with aiding and abetting.
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Reader Reactions
I just know that I would nor could ever hurt a child and once you have a conviction of doing so, you should never be permitted around another child again. They are the innocent among us judgemental adults, there is absolutely no excuse to cause any child pain.
What is so crazy is that I have heard ppl defend this fool, Robbi Douglas Potter after the fact that he has escaped a halfway house in which he was released to following his prison term.
“Potter is a Tier 3 sex offender. He recently was released from prison and was living at a halfway house after being convicted of sexual battery with a minor. Potter had warrants out for his arrest.“
Ridiculous behavior.
I never thought the child was in danger….. I’m pleased she’ll be living with her grandparents soon , only because her mother should have done that in the 1st place instead of being on the lam & running from the law….tsk tsk, that’s no way for a babygurl to live…..
AHHHH Yes there are a lot of sickos in this world, some are born that way and need help, then there is the “haters” , there is no redemption for them because they think that they are better than everyone else.
Im sure this piece of trash mother lead this boyfreind to her by using the daughter as bait.
Yes, thank God she is safe now, a true blessing indeed. Hopefully that perv didn’t put his hands on her. Haylee is a beautiful angel.
Her sicko mom needs the book thrown at her and definitely needs to lose custody of this poor little girl.
She obviously knew the guy was a sex offender and was trying to help hide him.
Hopefully they didn’t do anything to Haylee, but if so, then the death penalty is fitting for both of them.
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