A Texas girl taken from her father in 2002 has been found in Mexico, and her mother has been put into custody, the FBI and an investigator said Wednesday. Sabrina Allen was abducted from Austin in April 2002 when she was 4 years old by Dara Marie Llorens, according to Klein Investigations and Consulting, a private investigator based in Nederland, Texas. Llorens, who was divorced from Sabrina's dad, had visitation rights but did not have custody of the girl, the investigations firm said.
Llorens was captured Tuesday in Estafeta Tlaxcala, southeast of Mexico City, in a secret operation by the investigators, U.S. Marshals, the FBI and Austin police. Sabrina, now 17, was found a few minutes later in good health. Her father said in an online video that Sabrina had dyed hair and used a fake name, and that she is several years behind in her education. She is being evaluated by health professionals at an undisclosed location in Texas, and has yet to be reunited with her dad. While she appears to be physically fine, mentally, "she's in pretty bad shape, from what I hear," her father, Greg Allen of Austin, said Wednesday.
The rescue came after Llorens was placed under surveillance by a confidential informant for Klein Investigations, which had been working on the case for the past nine years.
“This case is not over," investigator Philip Klein told NBC News. "I spoke to Greg last night and he is absolutely emotional and in tears.”
A Mexican federal police officer suffered a minor injury during the operation, but is now in good condition, Klein's firm said.
In a news conference Wednesday, FBI assistant special agent Dan Powers said, "Today is a great day. Not only for the family, but for our law enforcement family."
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