Missing mother and baby found in motel

Norwalk, Conn. (WTNH) - After a frantic search and an alert from police a mother and her seven-month old baby daughter have been found safe.

They went missing Wednesday when the woman never returned to the drug rehab center she was living in after a court date.   

After issuing a silver alert and receiving several tips, police found the mother and her 7-month-old baby unharmed in the Econo Lodge off Route 1 in Norwalk around 3 o'clock Friday morning.

"It's a baby and helpless children tugs at everybody's heart, you just wish the best for the child and DCF is involved, so I think that's why you just want to give babies a chance," said Sgt. Lisa Cotta.

The baby's mother, Kelley Acevedo, had been living in a drug rehab center in New Haven. The center let her leave for 24 hours on Wednesday in order to make a court date she had in Norwalk. She brought her baby Emily with her to court and when she didn't return back to the center, police were called and a Silver alert was issued.

"Silver alert usually reserved for elderly people Alzheimer's and amber alert when an abduction, so it was sort of in between so we thought silver alert might be the safest way to let people know we are looking for her," said Sgt. Cotta.

They said a silver alert was appropriate for a missing persons case.

"We were concerned because we didn't know what her state of mind would be," said Sgt. Cotta. "Did she not want to go back home to New Haven? Was she upset with DCF? We didn't know what her mindset was so that's why we wanted to her as quickly as possible."

They say the silver alert was a success because mother and baby were found quickly and safely.

Police say they don't plan on charging the mother. They say she was cooperative when they arrived at the motel and they did not find any drugs or anything to indicate the baby was in imminent danger.

The baby is in DCF's custody. They are investigating and if they see reason to press charges they will let police know and that's when they would get back involved.