Authorities have issued an Amber Alert for a Texas girl whose stepfather said she was kidnapped by a group of three men in a pickup truck.
>> See her missing poster here
According to the Houston Chronicle, Darion Vence; his 4-year-old stepdaughter, Maleah Davis; and his toddler son, Kourtland, were heading to the Houston airport Friday night to pick up Maleah's mother when Vence pulled over to investigate a "popping noise," Houston police said. Moments later, three Hispanic men in a blue Chevy pickup pulled over, as well, Vence told investigators.
Vence said one of the men knocked him out, while another said Maleah "looks very nice, looks very sweet," according to Houston police Sgt. Mark Holbrook.
Vence told police that he briefly regained consciousness in the back of the truck, saw the men and children, then blacked out again until 6 p.m. Saturday, the Chronicle reported. The men then left Vence and Kourtland near a highway in Sugar Land before fleeing with Maleah, Vence said.
Vence said he and his son walked along Highway 6 seeking help until they finally reached a hospital after 10 p.m. Saturday. He reported the incident to authorities, who issued an Amber Alert for Maleah on Sunday morning.
>> See more photos of Maleah here
Maleah, who is black, stands about 3 feet tall, weighs 30 to 40 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes, police said. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a pink hair bow, a light blue jacket and blue jeans with gray, white and pink sneakers, authorities said. Officials initially said Maleah was 5 years old, but they issued a correction Monday saying she is 4.
Maleah recently had brain surgery, police said.
Authorities also said the vehicle Vence had been driving, a 2011 Nissan Altima that belongs to Maleah's mother, is missing. The silver car has temporary tag number 330-92G9.
Vence is not considered a suspect in the case, police said.
If you have information about the case, please call 713-308-3600 or 713-222-TIPS.
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