UPDATE: Missing Delaware girl found

 Dawn Barkus pleads for the safe return of her daughter Tuesday morning. The girl was found safe on Tuesday afternoon in Massachusetts. (Mark Eichmann/WHYY)

Dawn Barkus pleads for the safe return of her daughter Tuesday morning. The girl was found safe on Tuesday afternoon in Massachusetts. (Mark Eichmann/WHYY)

A missing 3-year-old girl who was taken by her father Monday night has been found in Massachusetts.

UPDATE: New Castle County Police have cancelled an Amber Alert for Elinor Trotta after the 3-year-old girl has been found with her father in Massachusetts.

Police say they are working on connecting the young girl with her mother, Dawn Barkus. Barkus made a passionate plea for her to be returned earlier this morning.

They’ve released little other information other than to say that their investigation was aggressive and intense. Police will release more information later this evening.

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EARLIER STORY:

Police say the young girl, Elinor Trotta, was taken by her father, Michael Trotta after he was involved in a domestic altercation with the girl’s mother, Dawn Barkus. 

“My heart is broken,” Barkus said during a Tuesday morning news conference. “I’m just begging anybody who knows where she is, or him or whoever is helping, to please bring her home. I don’t care how he does it, just bring her home.” 

Police issued an Amber Alert for the young girl overnight Monday. Investigators believe Trotta may have taken the girl to New Jersey or New York City. The Amber Alert has been extended to several other states, but police wouldn’t identify exact locations.

“As with all incidents involving a child, we are deeply concerned for her safety, and we are doing everything humanly possible to bring her back,” said Col. Elmer Setting, New Castle County’s Chief of Police.

Overnight, police located the Mazda Trotta was believed to be driving. They now say h e may be driving in a bright red SUV, possibly a Ford Explorer.

His last known location was Mt. Laurel, NJ.

Police say anyone with information on their location should call 911 immediately. The New Castle County Police Department can be reached at (302) 573-2800. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP- 3333.

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