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.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
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