AMBER alert called-off after missing infant found

WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - An AMBER Alert issued by State Police late Wednesday morning was called-off after a missing 3 month-old girl from Westfield was found safe in Virginia.

State Police confirmed that Gaebria Kozaczek  and her mother, 28 year-old Cheryl E. Kozaczek were found in Emporia, Virginia, along Interstate 95. The baby is now in the care of the Virginia Department of Families and Children, and her mother is now at a local jail.

According to State Police spokesperson David Procopio, Gaebria was taken around 1:00 A.M. from their Woodmont Street home by her mother, who does not have legal custody of her.

According to Procopio, they were concern that there may have been reason to fear for the infant's well being.

State police say Cheryl Kozaczek has been known to sleep in her car and in hotels. She also spent time in California.

Still, during a news conference held at Westfield Police Headquarters on Wednesday afternoon , Westfield Police Capt. Hipolito Nunez said that Cheryl Kozaczek left the house with food and clothing for the baby.

The baby's grandfather, Michael Kozaczek, told 22News that his daughter Cheryl has emotional issues, and is not getting the treatment that she needs.

After Gaebria was born, she was put into foster care, and temporary custody was given to her grandmother. He said that there was a hearing on Wednesday morning that had put the baby into state custody.

“I think she was very worried that they were going to take the baby from her and she just made a decision that she was going to, she made this decision to leave, which was unfortunate," Michael Kozaczek said.

When asked if he thought his daughter would put the baby in danger, he said:  “No I don’t, not intentionally, but if you’re traveling and you have a baby and you get distracted, that’s not a good situation.”

“We had hoped that Cheryl would have gone into treatment and eventually gotten custody," he said, "but the big issue is you can’t force somebody into treatment, you can’t force them to take medicine, you can’t force them to see a doctor. She’s an adult.”