A 6-year-old child who was taken from Iowa by their mother in violation of a court order was found safe Wednesday on Peaks Island.
The mother, 41-year-old Esther Bender, of Ames, Iowa, has been charged with violation of a custodial order, a serious misdemeanor, Ames police said Thursday.
Police said Bender left Iowa with the child around Oct. 14. The child will be returned to her father, police said.
Ames police Sgt. Amber Christian said she could not release any information about why Bender brought the child to Peaks Island or how long they were in Maine.
Ames police said Maine State Police, Portland Police Department and the FBI assisted with the investigation, which is ongoing.
Christian had not been notified Thursday afternoon if Bender had posted bond or if she would be extradited back to Iowa.
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