Authorities find missing St. Louis toddler in Detroit

ST. LOUIS -- A missing 23-month-old girl was found safe Sunday in Detroit with a teenage runaway more than a week after the toddler was abducted from her mother's St. Louis home, authorities said.

"She is healthy and happy," said David Thomas, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the St. Louis office.

Authorities said they are still piecing together the details of the July 19 abduction of Denisha Hair.

The child's parents said an acquaintance took the toddler from her home to visit a neighborhood store and never returned. Police said they couldn't say if the family friend who took the child was the same 15-year-old runaway girl from Reidsville, N.C., who was found with the toddler.

The runaway, whose name was not released, was in custody but has not yet been charged.

Capt. Eugene Reece with the St. Louis police juvenile division said the teen ran away in March, but police could only track her as staying in St. Louis during the three weeks before the abduction.

The child's parents, Kevin Campbell and Doretha Hair, have been notified that their daughter is safe. The toddler will be brought back to St. Louis.

"She'll be in protective custody until we can ... work out the details and unite her with her family," Reece said.