The story of an abducted little girl with serious health problems has taken a strange and disturbing twist. Her parents have surfaced and claim they had good reasons for taking the child away.
Alana Livas was removed from her parent's home by the Children's Aid Society last year, when case workers alleged she was being neglected and there was evidence that a marijuana grow-op was operating out of their home.
She was turned over to her aunt, who helped treat the girl for
rickets, a disease caused by a vitamin deficiency.
But when her folks got access to a CAS report on the child, they were startled. It apparently told them the caretaker aunt saw the child acting out sexually and her parents later saw her supposedly moving in a 'sensual way' during a scheduled visit. It was something they feared the five-year-old couldn't possibly have done innocently.
They say they called police but were referred back to Children's Aid.
When nothing was done, Peter and Vivenne Livas claim they were forced to take action. In an email to a local media outlet, the couple says they decided to abduct the youngster because they believed she was in harm's way and no one was taking their concerns seriously. All three disappearaed on November 29, 2007.
Authorities issued an urgent update about the case
at the end of January, because Alana's medication had run out and no one knew if her mother and father were able to get her the treatment she desperately needs for her condition.
Cops now say they need to talk to the youngster to see if there's any truth to the abuse implications and who might have done something to her.
An arrest warrant is out for both parents, who remain at large. Investigators contend they're still in Canada but no one is certain where they may be hiding or what their daughter's current condition is.