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Maci Lilley Found Alive: 4-Year-Old Girl Abducted From Park Located On Indian Reservation In Montana Found

By Tara West
Published on: 08:29 PST, Feb 28, 2016

UPDATE: Maci Lilley has been found alive by Undersheriff Corey Reum a few miles north of Wolf Point, the town where witnesses say she was taken by a young man in a park about 9:30 p.m. Friday. The little girl has been reportedly taken to a local medical facility for evaluation, but appears to be in good health. The Amber Alert has been called off. No information is currently being released by authorities on where the girl was found or details about Lieba’s arrest. More information will be provided as information becomes available.

Witnesses say a 4-year-old little girl, Maci Lilley, was abducted by a man from a park at the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana. The little girl was allegedly playing at the park on Friday night at around 9:30 p.m. when a man took the child from the park by force. A suspect, 20-year-old John “Billy” Lieba, has been taken into police custody, but the little girl remains missing.

The Daily Mail reports that 4-year-old Maci Lilley was playing at the park on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana when witnesses say a man took the child by force and fled with her on foot. The man was described by witnesses who claim he headed on foot towards the West End housing area. The abduction was reported to authorities and officers went door-to-door trying to locate the missing child. However, their search for the child came up empty-handed. Despite not finding the child, police have identified a suspect in the abduction and he was taken into custody.

The suspect was identified as 20-year-old John “Billy” Lieba who lives on the reservation. The officers say they looked through the housing area for Lieba and eventually found him in his vehicle. However, the missing Maci Lilley was not with the suspect when he was taken in for questioning. The police have not released a motive as to why Lieba may have taken the child or if he has admitted to abducting Lilley from the playground. However, it was noted that Lieba has lived on the reservation for some time. Police have yet to outline the exact relationship between Lieba and the little girl.

The Sheriff’s Department says that Maci is their number one priority right now and that they are doing everything in their power to locate the child.

“Law enforcement is doing everything in their power to find Maci and bring her home. She is our number one priority and no effort is being spared.”

Meanwhile, police issued an Amber Alert for Maci Lilley noting the child is 3 feet-tall, 60 pounds, Native American, with brown eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing a pink coat, blue jeans, pink and white shoes, and has short hair with long bangs. The Missoulian reports that the FBI has taken over the case as the suspect is in custody and being questioned.

The Border Patrol and local law enforcement agencies are also assisting the FBI on the case. The FBI and local authorities are asking that anyone with information on Maci Lilley to call 911 or the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office at (406) 653-6240.

[Image via Roosevelt County Sheriff/Amber Alert]

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