Missing mother and daughter found in Virginia

EMPORIA, Va. (WWLP) - A missing three month-old girl from Westfield has been found safe in southern Virginia.

Massachusetts State Police have cancelled the AMBER Alert issued about Gaebria Kozaczek, who they say was taken by her mother, 28 year-old Cheryl E. Kozaczek early Wednesday morning.

Trooper Todd Nolan from Massachusetts State Police Media Relations told 22News Virginia State Police identified the mother and daughter during a traffic stop on I-95 South near Emporia, Virginia at 2:50 Wednesday afternoon.

Trooper Nolan said, "Virginia State Police stopped the suspect truck, and identified the mother.  The baby was secured in a car seat and was unhurt." 

Cheryl Kozaczek, was taken to a local jail, and will face an arraignment as a fugitive from justice. State police say that the Hampden County DA's office will be working with Virginia authorities to have Kozaczek returned to Massachusetts to face kidnapping and other charges, including possession of a stolen motor vehicle (the truck she was driving belongs to a family member.) 

The baby is now in the custody of the Virginia Department of Families and Children.  There's no word on when the baby will be returned to her family in Westfield.

Emporia is located in southern Virginia, not far from the North Carolina state line. According to State Police Spokesperson David Procopio, North Carolina State Troopers had been staging on the state line, waiting for Kozaczek.

The AMBER alert for Gaebria Kozaczek is only the 17th AMBER Alert activated in Massachusetts since the program began in 2002. Since that time, each of the 25 children involved have been found safely.