MERCER COUNTY, Pa. — A man accused of kidnapping an infant Saturday in Mercer County is also suspected in connection with the death of the infant's mother.
Pennsylvania State Police had issued an Amber Alert Saturday for the 8-month-old girl abducted in Sharpsville.
Ariella Downs was reported to have been abducted from a home on Canterbury Court. Police identified the suspect as the infant's father, 36-year-old Antonio Velazquez-Rupert.
State police said both the infant and Velazquez-Rupert were found more than 300 miles away in Reading City around 3:45 p.m. Saturday. Sharpsville police Chief Chris Hosa said, "The baby is fine."
Police said Velazquez-Rupert is suspected in connection with the death of the baby's mother. The woman, Amanda Downs, was found dead inside of her Sharpsville apartment.
Velazquez-Rupert is charged with homicide and kidnapping. He remained in the Berks County Jail Sunday night.
Stay with Channel 11 News and WPXI.com for continuing coverage.
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XCUXZC2XYZHCRGNNGKFEX6U3LQ.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/WVVB4CJSSFHTHC275F4OJHSIGI.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/AU37L7EI5FFN3NSO7AK6Y2SJ6M.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/YPZHBLYOKJCYZC4ZOHFKJK3NN4.png)
:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/04-24-2024/t_86f539c1ea764201a4839c265bde5024_name_turkscaicosdetain042424_frame_989.jpeg)
:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/04-25-2024/t_93eb9fe81c6244458945322fd8a6018a_name_coldfourdayschool4pv042524_transfer_Consolidated_01_frame_0.jpeg)