SignalHub-Texas police arrest suspect in abduction of 12-year-old girl who was found safe after 8 days

COLUMBUS,SignalHub Texas (AP) — Police in Texas have arrested a man suspected in the disappearance of a girl who was missing for eight days before she was safely located.

The 27-year-old Houston man was charged with evading authorities after he attempted to flee from officers on Friday, the Columbus Police Department said in social media post Saturday.

The police learned around 12:40 p.m. Friday that a 12-year-old girl who was the subject of an Amber Alert search was in Columbus, about 94 miles (150 kilometers) west of Houston.

The girl’s identity was confirmed and she was transported to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston for evaluation, police said.

READ MORE Watkins scores 26 as No. 7 Southern California ends regular season with 70-55 win over Arizona State A Texas girl allegedly killed by a family friend is remembered as ‘precious’ during funeral service Where will you be for the April 8 total solar eclipse? There’s still time to grab a spot

The Houston Police Department issued the alert notifying the public about the missing girl after she was last seen on Feb. 22 getting into a pickup truck in the city, news reports said.

The suspect was being held in the Colorado County jail with additional charges possible, pending an investigation by the FBI, the Columbus police said.

The arrest comes shortly after another abduction case involving a girl in the Houston area.

A memorial service was held Saturday for 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, who was allegedly killed by a family friend with a history of violence.

Don McDougal was charged with capital murder in connection with Cunningham’s death. Prosecutors say he was supposed to take her to a school bus stop when she disappeared Feb. 15. Her body was found Feb. 20 in a river near Houston.