A missing 4-year-old girl in Rock Island, Illinois, who sparked an Amber Alert Thursday morning, has been found safe and sound. Blessing Aoci is now back with her mother and is being checked over by emergency medical services.
Here’s how it all unfolded.
The situation began early Thursday morning around 6:07 a.m. on the 1300 block of 14th 1/2 Street. Blessing was in a car seat in the back of a brown Saturn Outlook, which had been left running. In just 14 minutes, the car was found abandoned near 8th Street and 15th Avenue—but Blessing was gone, and so was the car seat.
This alarming discovery led authorities to issue an Amber Alert for Blessing. Rock Island police, along with other local and state agencies, launched an all-out search. Officers knocked on doors, and drones were sent up to search from the sky. The focus quickly turned to the neighborhoods around where the car was stolen.
Hours of searching finally paid off. At 2:53 p.m., Blessing was found safe “nearby and in apparent good health,” according to the police. She was reunited with her mother and taken to Unity Point Trinity for a medical check-up to ensure everything was okay.
Several arrests were made in connection to this case. Rock Island police arrested 18-year-old Jaron Bailey-Harris on charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a stolen vehicle. They also apprehended four juveniles:
- A 16-year-old Hispanic boy, charged with kidnapping and possession of a stolen vehicle.
- A 16-year-old Black boy, charged with possession of a stolen vehicle.
- A 15-year-old Black girl, charged with possession of a stolen vehicle.
- A 14-year-old Black girl, also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle.
Rock Island Police Chief Tim McCloud shared his thoughts on the outcome, saying, “While this incident had the high potential to become an unbelievable tragedy, it ultimately resulted in the best possible outcome. This was thanks to the cooperative efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, along with the help of concerned citizens and the media. I’m proud of what we can achieve when we all come together.”
This case also highlighted a larger problem in the area. Police reported several vehicles stolen overnight, many of which are still missing. Investigators suspect Blessing may have been transported in one of these other stolen cars. The missing vehicles include:
- A gray Nissan Rogue with Virginia license plate UVV4867, stolen from Davenport around 5 a.m.
- A black Kia Sportage, stolen from Rock Island around midnight.
- A tan Chevy Malibu with Iowa license plate MMU635, stolen from Rock Island around 5:26 a.m.
- A white Dodge Dart with Illinois license plate BG92693.
While the community breathes a sigh of relief that Blessing is safe, police continue their work on these related vehicle thefts. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and teamwork in keeping our neighborhoods safe.
