Family sues Philly School District over Cobbs Creek abduction

    The family of a 5-year-old girl abducted from her Philadelphia elementary school and found partially clothed at a playground the next day has sued the school district.

    The civil rights lawsuit accuses the district of ignoring a long-standing practice of releasing children to unauthorized adults.

    Lawyer Tom Kline says the school district let a woman without proper identification take the girl from Bryant Elementary School in January 2013. He says the girl suffered “horrible injuries” before she was found at 4 a.m. on a frigid day.

    Suspect Christina Regusters is awaiting trial in the case.

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    The lawsuit names school district officials and the teacher who allegedly released the girl.

    District spokeswoman Raven Hill says the district does not comment on pending litigation.

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