Amber Alert canceled: Colorado 9-year-old found in Maryland, mother remains missing

A Colorado 9-year-old on Sunday was found safe in Maryland, but her 39-year-old mother remains on the loose after police said she took the girl.

The mother, Carly Lipnick, apparently turned off her cell phone before driving east, according to the Basalt Police Department.

Lipnick, who does not have custody of her daughter, handed the girl off to her sister in Maryland, according to a Denver7 report, before taking off to an unknown location.

The police investigation began Friday when Lipnick’s ex-husband called to report he had not heard from his ex-wife or daughter for a few days, according to a statement from the police department.

The girl had been staying with her mother, who lives in Basalt. Investigators learned information from a mental health professional that “caused concern for the safety and welfare” of the girl, according to Basalt police.

“Some of the things Carly was saying and describing were of grave concern,” Basalt police Lt. Aaron Munch said Sunday.

Although Lipnick’s cell phone has been turned off for several days, investigators on Friday learned from a ping that she’d been in the Denver area and discovered she’d checked out of a Denver area hotel around noon on Friday. Sloan was with Lipnick at that time, according to Basalt police.

Lipnick was believed to be driving a white 2012 Audi Q5 with a Colorado license plate of OWO236. An Amber Alert was issued Saturday afternoon for the missing girl, but was canceled Sunday.

Charges are pending against Lipnick, according to Basalt police, who said Lipnick last contacted Basalt police on Tuesday. The police have intervened more than once in ongoing custody disputes between Lipnick and her ex-husband, Munch said.