Massive Search For Spring Valley Infant a Success; Lemon Grove Sheriff's Investigating

An infant girl reported missing Friday out of Spring Valley was found safe after a day of search operations, sheriff's officials report.

"Baby Anissa is okay," an alert states.  "She will be taken to a hospital for a checkup."

The woman who apparently took the baby—her aunt— was identified 46-year-old Deborah Ann Fowler, and was taken to the Lemon Grove Sheriff's station for questioning, according to a press statement from authorities.  For now, she's being held on a vehicle theft charge, but officials say she could also face child endangerment charges "pending the investigation."

The search for little Anissa Von Goerlitz began Friday morning when her grandmother and legal guardian, who lives in Spring Valley, reported her missing.

The San Diego Sheriff's Department sent out an alert to the media and public for help in tracking down the three-week-old's aunt.

"If you see Fowler, do not approach her," the alert had stated.  "Call the San Diego Sheriff's Department."

Sheriff's officials deployed a search by both air and land, utilizing deputies from the Lemon Grove and Santee stations, along with volunteers.  

Personnel began looking through stretches of riverbed and other brush-choked terrain off the 10600 block of Vine Street in Lakeside in the late afternoon, after an SUV Fowler was driving, was found in the area.

Agents from the Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR) eventually found the baby with her aunt just before 8:00 p.m., inside the perimeter of the search area west of Highway 67, south of Lakeside Drive, north of Channel Road, according to the sheriff's department.