Catalin Hoard (2 months) 11/22/09 Conover, N.C.

Conover, N.C. — A missing 2-month-old infant from Conover was found safe after a police chase in Davie and Forsyth counties early Monday, but her alleged abductor escaped.

An Amber Alert was issued Sunday night after Catalin Hoard was reported missing from 111-92 Herman Sip Road in Conover. Investigators believe that Saturnino Ortega-Vidal, 34, took her and drove away in blue 1980 Toyota truck.

Davie County Sheriff Andy Stokes said that around 1:45 a.m., a deputy spotted a truck matching that description. The deputy and a nearby state trooper stopped the truck, but then the driver sped away.

Deputies and troopers pursued the vehicle on 12-mile chase from I-40 onto U.S. Highway 158, Stokes said. There, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a ditch, then jumped out of the truck and ran.

Catalin was found in the floorboard of the truck. Stokes said she was OK and getting checked out at a local hospital as a precaution.

K9 units tracked the suspects scent into Forsyth County but lost it in the pouring rain, Stokes said.

The search for Ortega-Vidal is continuing.

Sheriff: Deputy Jumped Into Moving Vehicle To Save Infant

Catalin Hoard Found Safe In Davie County

Stokes said when the deputy asked Ortega-Vidal to get out of the car, he sped off.
As deputies were about to stop the vehicle near Tanglewood Park following the chase that ensued, Ortega-Vidal jumped from the moving vehicle and ran into some nearby woods. Stokes said another deputy jumped into the moving vehicle and was able to bring it to a stop before the child could be injured.

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