ATLANTA — Dec. 3 UPDATE: The Bartow County sheriff's office said the man wanted for allegedly taking a 2-year-old was in police custody.
UPDATE: Authorities said just after 7 a.m. Thursday that the child was "located and reunited with her mother."
According to an update in a Bartow County Sheriff's Office press release, the incident began when 2-year-old Cataleya Marie Buttrom's mother wanted to leave her home.
The mother reportedly lived with Ricky Lee Buttrom and her two children — a boy and a girl. She reportedly wanted to leave the home due to Ricky's behavior. The mother contacted a friend to come pick her and her children up so they could leave.
Ricky, however, answered the door with a handgun when the friend arrived, the press release stated. The mother and her friend left the location and called 911.
Deputies arrived and found the boy near the front door of the home, but Ricky and Cataleya were not inside. The Bartow County Sheriff’s Office issued an Amber Alert shortly after.
Ricky Lee Buttrom is wanted for charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated stalking, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of firearm during the commission of a crime.
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ORIGINAL STORY: Authorities are searching for a 2-year-old girl who was abducted Wednesday, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Law enforcement issued an Amber Alert around 9:40 p.m. regarding Cataleya Marie Buttrom. The search for the child escalated after a Levi's Call was activated by the Bartow County Sheriff's Office.
Cataleya was abducted by Ricky Lee Buttrom, a Black 25-year-old man believed to be driving a blue Toyota Rav 4 with the Georgia tag CPF9791. Authorities described Buttrom to be 6 feet 7 inches tall weighing in at 193 pounds with brown eyes and dreads.
Law enforcement said Cataleya weighs 20 pounds and has brown eyes and brown hair. She stands at about two feet tall.
Anyone who has information about the child's whereabouts should call 770-387-5195 or 911.