A young girl found Tuesday evening in a forest preserve area in Prospect Heights was identified by family members after an hours-long quest to reunite them.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said early Wednesday that an investigation was ongoing and that the 3-year-old, whose first name was confirmed to be Aliya, was placed in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services.
Both parents were being investigated after the incident and the girl's father was taken into custody, according to the Cook County Sheriff's office.
"Sheriff Dart would like to thank the media for their attention to this case. The media coverage brought in tips that led to the child’s eventual identification," a morning statement from the department said.
Aliya was alone when she was found by a passerby about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in a forest preserve area near Milwaukee Avenue and Palatine Road, according to a statement by police.
