Officials: Missing Florida mom, baby safe
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - Officials say a missing central Florida mother and baby have been found alive and well.
Authorities in Altamonte Springs had been searching for 21-year-old Jessica "Elizabeth" McCreery and 7-month-old Penelope Hogarth since Tuesday when they were called to the family's home after receiving an anonymous tip that a child was being neglected.
Police say when they arrived, McCreery and the child were missing. Authorities instead discovered a marijuana grow house in the residence and arrested 46-year-old David Hogarth on drug and child neglect charges. Hogarth is McCreery's boyfriend and also the father of the child.
Police said Hogarth refused to tell authorities where McCreery and the child were and that his comments made them believe the two were in danger.
Late Thursday, Hogarth's attorney Mark O'Mara provided Altamonte Springs police with a photo depicting the mother and child. McCreery was holding a paper with Thursday's date printed on it.
It is unclear where authorities ultimately located McCreery and the child. It is also unclear whether McCreery will face any charges.
Authorities had previously said they were concerned about the child's well-being, saying the baby was not born at a hospital and is not believed to have ever been checked by a medical professional, reports CBS affiliate WKMG.
Child Protective Services investigators visited the family's home earlier this month and reportedly determined the child was underweight and needed medical attention.