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UPDATE: The mother and child being sought in the AMBER Alert have been located in a vehicle in a wooded area in Charlton. Both are conscious and alert and are being taken to area hospitals for examination.
LEEANN RICKHEIT, 38, is being transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital under police guard. The exact charges against her will be finalized as the specific facts and circumstances are determined. The charges will reflect RICKHEIT’s actions in fleeing with the child as well as evidence observed and recovered during her capture.
The three-year-old child has been transported to UMass Medical Center.
The recovery was made after members of the State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section developed information indicating that RICKHEIT frequented the wooded area where she was found.
The AMBER Alert has been deactivated. The investigation into RICKHEIT is ongoing.
No further information is being released at this time.
For original release, see below.
The Massachusetts State Police, on behalf of the Worcester Police Department, are issuing an AMBER Alert.
At approximately 7:45 p.m. this evening, Ella Abbott was taken from 339 Greenwood Street in Worcester by her mother, Leeann Rickheit. Rickheit made threats to harm the child this evening.
Ella Abbott is described as a 3-year-old, white female with brown hair, brown eyes, 3 feet tall, weighing approximately 40 pounds. She was last seen wearing a purple or dark colored top.
Leeann Rickheit is described as a 38-year-old, white female with light brown hair, blue eyes, 5’11” tall, and weighs approximately 170 pounds.
Leeann is believed to be driving a blue, 2007 Hyundai Sonata bearing Massachusetts registration 4PG367. She has a history in the Charlton area was thought to be recently traveling on the Mass Pike in that area.
Below are pictures of Ella Abbott and Leeann Rickheit as well as a like vehicle that she may be driving.
If you see either of them or have information as to their whereabouts, please call the Worcester Police Department at 508-799-8606 or dial 911.
