WINK News Investigates: Lehigh Acres missing child alert

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LEHIGH ACRES, Fla.- It started when Arriella Medina’s mother called Lee County Deputies, to tell them Arriella’s father, Pablo Medina, wouldn’t give her back

The mother said on Monday, she let Arriella visit Medina’s family.
That same night, Arriella’s mother told deputies, Medina threatened to kill her and their unborn twins, physically attacking her at a friend’s house.
She told deputies Medina called her Thursday and threatened to keep the girl if charges weren’t dropped.
Medina was arrested for aggravated battery on a pregnant woman, Friday.
So why did this turn into a missing child alert? WINK News asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
FDLE said there is certain criteria a case must meet.
Spokesperson Gretl Plessinger, said “a child of course has to be under 18. Must show that child’s life is in danger. Obviously need a description and photograph of the child.”
In this case, Lee County detectives believed Arriella was in danger so they called FDLE. Arriella’s missing alert was canceled two hours after it began.
Pablo Medina returned her to her mother, after learning of the alert.
“It’s important to understand that while an agency is contacting FDLE asking for a missing child alert, they are doing many other things at the same time. usually they may be canvassing the neighborhood, doing interviews, this is just one piece of investigative tools they have at their disposal,” said Gretl Plessinger.
Media and news outlets are some of the first to get the missing children alerts, but FDLE says you can too.
They say you can sign up for alerts at missingchildrenalerts.com.

 

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