GASTONIA, N.C. -- An Amber Alert issued for a missing 3 year old in Gastonia has been canceled, as she has been found safe.

  • Destiny Boykins is a 3-year-old Black female, approximately 3 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 30 pounds
  • The alleged abductor, Maurice Knox, is described as 57 years old, Black, male, 6 feet 1 inches tall, weighing 200 pounds
  • She was found safe and is being reunited with her mother

Destiny Boykins was allegedly abducted by her father Maurice Knox Sunday morning.

Authorities say a three-car crash happened at the intersection of Remount Road and Toomey Avenue, in which Knox and Boykins was in one of those cars, a Nissan Altima, that he stole. Police pursued him for a couple of minutes before the crash happened. From there, they took Knox into custody and US Marshals took Boykins out of the car and to the hospital where she was reunited with her mother. Boykins was not in a child seat but was restrained in a seatbelt when the crash happened. She is expected to be okay.

Several people were injured from the crash, one in serious condition and others have since been released from the hospital.

Knox, who is said to have been impaired, was also taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He is charged with domestic criminal trespassing, breaking and entering, assault on a female, felonious restraint, kidnapping, assault on a law enforcement officer, child endangerment, and careless and reckless driving.

He was also in violation of a domestic violence protection order from Gaston County.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Boykins is believed to have been abducted from 2079 E Hudson Blvd, Apartment H, Gastonia, NC. She was last seen northbound from 2079 E Hudson Blvd. Possibly traveling to 2734 Wingate Ave, Charlotte, NC.

Police in Charlotte found what they believed to be Knox's original car, a black Honda Accord. However, Knox and Destiny were not with the car. Police are now searching for Knox is a brown 2015 Nissan Altima.

One neighbor says while she's never seen Destiny in the neighborhood before but has noticed Knox wearing that signature red shirt.

image of Knox
Image of Maurice Knox

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