Luz Cuevas was due in a New Jersey Family Court at 4 p.m., when welfare officials were expected to discuss a plan to reunite Cuevas with her daughter, Delimar, who was snatched from her crib six years ago, allegedly by a family acquaintance.
The acquaintance, Carolyn Correa, is charged with kidnapping the child and setting a fire to cover her tracks.
Cuevas couldn't find Delimar when she ran into the infant's room. She eventually ran out of the house, overcome by smoke and suffering burns on her face. Her two other children survived the fire.
Remains of the infant's body were never found, and police concluded they had been incinerated in the flames.
The official cause of the fire was listed as an overheated extension cord attached to a space heater.
After surrendering this week, Correa is being held on $1 million bail.
The child is in foster care.
Cuevas told CNN that Delimar became hysterical when told that Correa was not her mother but has since calmed down and is beginning to adjust to the news.
Cuevas never fully believed her daughter died in the fire.
In January, she attended a birthday party for the child of an acquaintance and was struck by the resemblance of a 6-year-old girl to herself and her other children.
Telling the girl she had bubble gum in her hair, Cuevas was able to take strands of her hair in hopes a DNA test would prove she was right, according to Philadelphia police Lt. Michael Boyle of the Special Victims Unit.
A state legislator helped put Cuevas in touch with police, who launched an investigation and had DNA tests performed that confirmed the girl is her daughter.
Credit to:CNN.com
With all the depressing news of the
world, and all the stories we see or hear
of it is nice to find one like this that
can have a happy ending!
This poor mother thought her baby was
killed in a fire for 6 years.
and now knows the truth, and soon will
have her child back!
Gazz
