AMBER ALERT UPDATE: Mother considered dangerous, abducted child found

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) –The Bladen County Sheriff’s Office has found missing 4-month-old Lonnisha Renee Askew.

“It’s been a good day,” Sheriff Jim McVicker said. “Good day. Baby’s good. Good to go.”

The Bladen County Sheriff’s Office says they now have the baby and will bring her back to the Columbus County Department of Social Services, who has had custody of the baby since birth.

The baby’s mother, Juanita Renee Askew, and a male friend were arrested around Lumberton.

The baby has severe medical complications and was abducted from a Bladen County daycare on Monday.

Juanita Askew had one supervised visit a month at the daycare.

Sheriff Jim McVicker says the mother went to Little Hands Daycare in Bladenboro and told staff she had a visit. When they turned their back, Askew allegedly ran off with her daughter.

“She came to the front and said she was going to take the baby to DSS because she saw something going on with the baby,” daycare owner Anita Hall said. “So my secretary told her she wasn’t on the sign out sheet to pick up the child. But we asked her not to leave with the baby, but she proceeded on out the door and she left anyway.”

Bladen County Sheriff’s Office says family of the child cooperated. Juanita Askew handed over the baby to the family at a undisclosed location.

“Everybody did a wonderful job,” McVicker said. “Robeson County Sheriff’s Office. Our people. They coordinated this thing with some of the kin. They agreed to go to the bus station to pick this child up.”

Juanita is the sister of Chauncey Askew, who is currently charged with the October murder of NC State Trooper Kevin Conner.

Juanita Askew is being charged with child abduction. The male companion was arrested but it is unclear what his charges will be. The sheriff’s office worked with Lumberton Police and several other law enforcement agencies to make this possible.

“Everybody kept their cool,” McVicker said. “Had a lot of patience. When the car drove up with the child, we took the child without incident. The one that brought the child drove off. We went three or four blocks down the road and stopped them and made an arrest without incident.”

EMS has checked the child out and say that she seems to be okay. They plan to do further evaluations on her.

“I just thank God it was a good day and we’re pleased.”