LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State Police (MSP) said a 12-day-old girl reported missing has been found safe.
DeWitt Charter Township police arrested the girl's mother and grandmother late Tuesday.
The MSP Surveillance Team found the vehicle driving on eastbound I-69 at Airport Road.
They radioed for assistance.
DeWitt Charter Township pulled over the vehicle at US-127 and Round Lake Round.
Both the mother and grandmother of the infant were in the car, and both had warrants out for them in Kent County.
Dakota, the 12-day-old, was not in the car with the women.
MSP Troopers interviewed the baby's mother, and Township officers interviewed the grandmother.
The interviews led authorities to the baby, who was returned to the Isabella Indian Reservation.
The baby was supposed to go into protective custody after an order was issued by the state. State police said the family was aware of this and took off with the child anyway.
Both women are currently behind bars in Clinton County.
Dakota was born twelve days earlier to mother, Ilah Mankel. The family lives in Lowell, Michigan.
Ilah was ordered to give up her custodial rights when Dakota was born but did not, resulting in the warrant for her arrest.
She was arrested for parental kidnapping.
Dakota's grandmother, Linda Mankel, was arrested for giving police a false name, resisting and obstruction of justice, as well as possession of heroine.
Ilah is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, July 3, at 2:30 in Kent County on kidnapping-custodial.
She is also facing second degree charges for retail fraud.
Linda Mankel is part of the Chippewa Indian Tribe and has family in the Mt. Pleasant area.
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