Amber Alert canceled; girl found safe in Massachusetts

A 3-year-old girl, abducted by her father Monday night near New Castle, was found alive and safe Tuesday afternoon in Spencer, Massachusetts, police said.

Elinor and her father, Michael Trotta, 43, were found with the assistance of the FBI and Massachusetts authorities, New Castle County Police Chief Col. Elmer M. Setting said. Trotta did not resist, Setting said.

Trotta, 43, of the New Castle area, assaulted the girl's mother and took the girl Monday night at their home in the Schoolside Apartments off East Basin Road, Setting said.

Trotta, who fled the apartment complex in a gray Mazda, was wanted on charges of reckless endangering and carjacking, Setting said. He also has additional charges from a Feb. 15 assault on Dawn Barkus, Elinor's mother, he said.

Officials believe Trotta may have had family connections in Spencer, Setting said.

Trotta is awaiting extradition back to Delaware.

During the search, Setting said Trotta was considered "armed and dangerous," but it is not known if he was armed at the time of his arrest.

Just six hours after a tearful Barkus pleaded for her daughter's return, she was able to speak about the incident.

"It's a different tone than this morning," Barkus said. "Today is my birthday and I prayed all day to God, and he gave me the best birthday gift ever. I'm going to get my Elinor back."

Barkus will be flown to Massachussetts with law enforcement officials to be reunited with her daughter, Setting said.

Earlier Tuesday, Barkus found herself at a morning news conference, pleading for the safe return of her daughter. "Please bring her home," she said.

A News Journal check of court records showed Trotta has a lengthy criminal record.

Trotta has a New Castle address, Setting said, but he declined to release details of the alleged assaults or the girl's abduction.

"We are deeply concerned for her safety and are doing everything humanly possible to bring this girl home," Setting said at the earlier news conference.

Setting declined to say what states were included in the Amber Alert, elaborate about the searches or discuss the girl's legal custody status. Details on the FBI's role in the search were not clarified.

Supervisory Special Agent John Webb said the FBI was "fully engaged" in the case.

The investigation began at 6:48 p.m. Monday when Barkus called 911 to say Trotta assaulted her and abducted their daughter, Setting said.

Police early Tuesday said they believed Trotta might be headed to New York City, noting he last was seen Monday night at a New Jersey Turnpike rest stop in the area of Mount Laurel, New Jersey.

Police recovered a Mazda in which Trotta fled from Barkus's apartment complex in the 800 block of E. Basin Road, he said, and believed he might be driving a bright-red SUV, possibly a Ford Explorer. Police released no information about where or how he got the second vehicle.

Elinor's mother, who spoke briefly at the news conference – where photos of her daughter and ex-boyfriend stood nearby on easels – said she worried because her daughter had been taken away from the routine they shared.

Asked if she had any message for her daughter, she said, "Mommy loves you, and I just want her to come home."

Detectives called Barkus on Tuesday afternoon to inform her that Elinor was found. Barkus looks forward to being reunited, although she said she knows her daughter went through a rough ordeal.

"I'm just going to squeeze her and hug her," Barkus said.

Contact robin brown at (302) 324-2856 or rbrown@delawareonline.com. Find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @rbrowndelaware. Contact Greta Iverson at (302) 324-2771, giverson@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @greta_wade.