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An Anthem man found a 2-year-old girl in his driveway around 4:30 a.m. today, and had never seen this little girl before in his life.
Deputies eventually found one of the child’s parents, 22-year-old Nikki Hockett, more than two hours later. Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Joaquin Enriquez tells New Times authorities are still trying to figure out what exactly she was doing this morning while her youngster went on a stroll.
The man who found the kid this morning called the Sheriff’s Office, and while she was in good condition, she wasn’t wearing shoes, and had a saturated diaper.
Enriquez says deputies checked all the houses within three blocks for an open door, a light on, or, you know, frantic parents, but no leads were found.
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MCSO got the word out early this morning, and someone watching the morning news, an employee for Tutor Time in Anthem, recognized the kid.
Shortly after 7 a.m., about 2 1/2 hours after her kid was found, Hockett showed up to the house where her daughter was found.
Hockett doesn’t live in the neighborhood, but had been staying at a friend’s house a street away from where her daughter was found, Enriquez says.
Child Protective Services has taken temporary custody of the kid, while MCSO and CPS investigate the incident and determine if criminal charges are necessary, Enriquez says.
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Follow Matthew Hendley on Twitter at @MatthewHendley.
