Florida Amber Alert issued for 8-year-old girl. What we know and how you can help

Cheryl McCloud, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Updated ·2 min read
8

An Amber Alert set off cellphones early Monday morning and a few hours later the missing child has been found safe.

The alert was issued for an 8-year-old girl out of Clearwater in Pinellas County.

The Largo Police Department said the child was found and is safe. The suspect, Renato Muhaj has been taken into custody, according to spokesperson Megan Santo. The investigation is active and she declined to provide any further details.

Here's what we know about the incident so far:

More: Florida’s Amber Alert system: What to know about state’s plan when a child goes missing

Amber Alert issued for Alessia Muhaj

Amber Alert issued for 8-year-old Alessia Muhaj.
Amber Alert issued for 8-year-old Alessia Muhaj.

A Florida Amber Alert was issued Monday morning shortly before 7 a.m. for Alessia Muhaj, 8, of Clearwater.

Alessia has brown hair and brown eyes.

The Amber Alert was canceled sometime before 10 a.m.

Officials said girl's father suspect in another case

Alessia Muhaj was last seen in the 1700 block of Clearwater Largo Road North.

The FDLE suspected Alessia was with Renato Muhaj.

The Clearwater Police Department said the man is the girl's father, and is also the suspect in a felony battery case that happened overnight in the area.

Officials said they were traveling in a 2017 gold Kia Sportage with a Florida tag number of EJIJ99.

Where is Clearwater?

Clearwater is located along Florida's West Coast in Pinellas County.

It's west of Tampa and north of St. Petersburg.

Who to contact if you spot the child

If the two are located, do not approach them. Call 911 or call:

FDLE Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse: 1-888-FL-MISSING (1-888-356-4774)

Largo Police Department: 727-587-6730.

What is the Florida Amber Alert program?

Florida's Amber Alert program was established in 2000 to "broadcast critical information of an abducted child as quickly as possible to the media and general public."

The plan is meant to alert the public in a much broader scope than just the immediate area where a child disappeared.

The program not only sends emails or free text messages to the public, but also uses road signs and lottery machines to notify the public.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Amber alert Florida: Alessia Muhaj considered kidnapped. What we know