Missing Maryland girl, 11, who disappeared after 'her father murdered her mother' was found unharmed with her father in a motel in South Carolina

show ad

Fifty thousand Orthodox Jews take over TEN BLOCKS of Manhattan in protest over Israeli army plan to draft from religion
Did missing Malaysia flight DISINTEGRATE at 35,000 feet? Possible plane door and tail spotted as Interpol probes claim four people boarded on stolen passports
William Clay Ford, last surviving grandchild of automotive pioneer Henry Ford and the owner of the Detroit Lions, dies at 88 of pneumonia
EXCLUSIVE: 'I was fully comfortable with the photo shoot': Meet the topless Muslim model from American Apparel's controversial new ad
Scientists develop blood test that can predict if you will get Alzheimer's disease with 90 per cent accuracy
Utah Polygamous family with 24 CHILDREN says going on television for the reality show My Five Wives is as liberating as 'coming out of the closet'
Police on the hunt for woman who almost bit a driver's finger off in fight over a mall parking spot
Beaming President and Michelle are all smiles after returning from their weekend getaway at $2,500-a-night Florida resort
One of the last of Easy Company stands down: Second World veteran Edward 'Babe' Heffron dies at 90 after being immortalized in Band Of Brothers
Archaeologists exhuming remains of legendary million-dollar racehorse buried at California track after it's closed down
'They figured I was a gang member because of my color': Outrage after two black teens are EXPELLED from school 'after teachers mistook football sign for gang symbol'
Police search for suspect who attempted to steal Banksy artwork in New Orleans
Loud noise complaint leads police to bust bungling drug dealer with five pounds of heroin
Twenty four students injured after stage collapsed during raucous California high school dance competition
Original script for classic film Citizen Kane marked as Orson Wells' 'working copy' sells for almost $167,000
Historians unravel the mystery of a cryptic note from Abraham Lincoln written when he was a presidential candidate seeking political support in New York
Fresh clashes in Ukraine: Russian activists attack pro-Kiev rally in Crimean port city of Sevastopol as Ukrainian prime minister vows 'this is our land'
Has Blackwater been deployed to Ukraine? Notorious U.S. mercenaries 'seen on the streets of flashpoint city' as Russia claims 300 hired guns have arrived in country
Inside the lair of the 'Goblin' handing Crimea to his Russian puppet master Vladimir Putin
One day my boy, this cage will be yours: Heartwarming footage of the moment a papa lion meets its baby cub for the first time
'I knew I was in over my head': Trained terrorist explains why he quit the jihad as he testifies in trial of Osama bin Laden's son-in-law
Cancer patients who have chemotherapy have a less peaceful death often in hospital instead of the comfort of their home
French railway firm finally set to pay reparations in the U.S. for transporting 76,000 Jews to Nazi death camps as it seeks to secure billion dollar contract
Fewer than 20 of George Zimmerman's 'fans' ask for a picture and autograph at a Florida gun show where he was the guest of honor

The girl, 11-year-old Caitlyn Virts, was located along with her father, Timothy Virts, in a motel in Florence, South Carolina
The owner of the Colonial Inn, Carol Gause, recognized the pair and called the police
Timothy Virts was wanted for murder after body of Bobbie Jo Cortez was found on Thursday
Virts was believed to be using a car owned by his alleged victim's husband, who is in jail facing sex assault charges

By Associated Press and Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 16:53 EST, 8 March 2014 | UPDATED: 16:54 EST, 8 March 2014

View
comments

A Maryland girl who disappeared after her mother was found dead last week has been located following a nationwide search, authorities say.

The girl, 11-year-old Caitlyn Virts, was located along with her father, Timothy Virts, in a motel in Florence, South Carolina, police said late Friday.

She and her father had been missing since the body of the girl's mother, Bobby Jo Cortez, was found at her home Thursday. Police have since charged Timothy Virts with first-degree murder in the slaying of Cortez, 36.

Manhunt: Timothy Virts abducted his daughter, Caitlyn, and brought her to a motel in South Carolina

The father and his daughter were staying at the Colonial Inn when they were discovered by the owner

The girl was found unharmed, according to a statement by the Baltimore County Police Department. Virts is in police custody and will be returned to Maryland 'pending an extradition process,' the statement said. Police hope to return the girl home as soon as possible.

'Detectives will be traveling to South Carolina as soon as possible to continue the investigation,' said Corp. John Wachter in a statement.

Virts and his daughter were located at the Colonial Inn, according to local police in Florence. They first rented a room on Thursday night, said owner Carol Gause.

More...

'They looked fine. She just walked right up with her father. I didn't notice anything,' Gause said by phone from the hotel on Saturday.

Gause was checking her Facebook page from the front desk around 7 p.m. Friday when she saw the Amber Alert posted by a friend and immediately recognized Virts and his daughter. She called police and officers quickly arrived. She said Virts was arrested without problems and his daughter appeared to be OK.

'I was startled, but I wasn't worried or frightened. You don't expect to ever be involved in something like this,' Gause said. 'But I called police and they took over.'

The search for Timothy Virts and his daughter, Caitlyn, become a nationwide operation, with police believing his daughter could be in danger.

Getaway car: Virts was believed to be using this 1999 Dodge Durango that has Maryland plates

Police tried to track down Virts, who was believed to be using a car belonging to the husband of his alleged victim

The FBI believed Virts, 38, may have left the state and taken Caitlyn with him after Ms Cortez's body was discovered at her Dundalk home.

An autopsy was due to take place on Friday, and police have not said what used to inflict the injuries.

Police spokeswoman Elise Armacost said probable cause for the murder charge was based on physical evidence and interviews with people in the house at the time Ms Cortez was killed.

More...

Caitlyn's twin sister and Ms Cortez's young son, as well as two other adults, were also living at the home.

Armacost said Virts had been staying there too, for the past several weeks.

The FBI said that the U.S. Attorney's Office in Maryland has charged Virts with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Victim: Bobbie Jo Cortez was found in her home, covered in multiple cuts, on Thursday

The agency searched nationwide for Caitlyn and Virts and put up digital billboards across the country on the search.

An Amber Alert issued in Maryland was expanded late Thursday to include West Virginia.

A police spokesman told WUSA9 they believed Virts had connections to West Virginia and were 'doing our due diligence' to follow tips.

Authorities said anyone who saw Caitlyn, Virts or the vehicle Virts was believed to be driving should call 911. Virts may be armed and is dangerous, the warned.

He was thought to be driving a black 1999 Dodge Durango with Maryland plates 5AJ4458. The car is registered to Ms Cortez's husband, Daniel Williams Cortez.

Mr Cortez, 38, is currently being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on sexual assault charges. Police said they do not believe he has anything to do with the murder of his wife.

MOST WATCHED NEWS VIDEOS

Comments (13)

Share what you think

View all

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

Tileman, Murfreesboro USA, 22 hours ago

So glad she is ok. Thankful for the Amber Alert system, it works so well.

Click to rate

Robert, Mountain Home NC USA, 22 hours ago

poor little girl!!!!!

Click to rate

TGreat, Gushikawa, Japan, 23 hours ago

Chaotic family life. Glad she's ok. I hope all the kids have a good family member to take care of them now.

Click to rate

Taj Mahal, La Jolla, United States, 23 hours ago

this si very good because i see the girl foto and i thinking that she dead so i am happy he did not the hurting baby.

Click to rate

Fido528, Tulsa OK, 23 hours ago

happy she is safe and hoping loving family step up to take care of her.

Click to rate

Lainey, England, 23 hours ago

poor girl, hope she is taken care of finally by someone who loves her dearly :) x

Click to rate

Cidney_Cidney_Your, ASS LOOKS FAT, United Kingdom, 1 day ago

outstanding...fab news

Click to rate

nerdy0, London-NYC, United States, 1 day ago

really good news! I read the original story...and honestly figured it would end up a murder suicide case.

Click to rate

AuntyAlias, San Francisco, United States, 1 day ago

With the mother dead, father arrested, step father in jail, just what family is this girl being returned to? Poor lass.

102

Click to rate

Rebecca Howell, Timonium, United States, 23 hours ago

Peter Virts the paternal grandfather and his wife are raising Timonthy Virts other children and are prepared to take care of the twins. I'm not sure about the Cortez boy though.