Father charged with abducting daughter in court

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — A man who allegedly violated a restraining order, setting off an Amber Alert, appeared before a judge Thursday.

The New Haven dad is accused of snatching his daughter while she was sleeping and threatening to kill her.

Now a judge is taking steps to keep Robert Williamson Jr. from the child, issuing a protective order and boosting his bond to $750,000.

"We know he's not coming, he's not lurking," said mother Charlene Wilson, "and it's safe to go outside, for now."

The girl's mother, Charlene Wilson, allowed News 8 to visit with one-year-old Madison a day after she was the subject of the Amber Alert.

The little girl celebrated her first birthday last week, but has been walking for weeks.

"The best part is that she is one, she doesn't understand her father, she doesn't understand what happened," Wilson said, "so she'll be able to get past it."

Wednesday police say the dad violated a restraining order by barging into the apartment, grabbing the sleeping child and threatening to kill the girl and himself.

Hours after the Amber Alert, Williamson ended up surrendering himself with the child to police. Proof, friends say, that he cares about his daughter.

"But I could say he is a good man, that is all I want to say," said Thomas Smith.

Wilson is still holding Madison very close and counting on the court to award her sole custody.

"Maybe down the road we can work it out," said Wilson.