Great news comes in from Angeline Hartmann of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children:

Maia was recovered safely just before Christmas. NCMEC got a lead from a tipster living in Paraguay who told us they were suspicious about an American woman with a daughter. The tipster was suspicious because the mother wouldn’t let the child leave their home, she seemed over protective and wouldn’t let Maia be photographed. The tipster searched for the two online and found Maia’s missing poster which listed her mother, Zeporah Sykes, as her abductor. Law enforcement worked with international partners to confirm the tipster’s information and get Maia back home. This took several months, but Maia is now back home with her father in Virginia. Maia is now five years old and just started kindergarten this week.

Zeporah Sykes is in custody, charged with kidnapping in violation of custody visit order and is awaiting her next court appearance.

Maia’s Dad is so grateful to, “In Pursuit” and everyone who tried to help him find Maia. He says he had not seen Maia for 23 months. He says he knows he was lucky to get the national publicity attention for her and will be forever grateful to all of the people who helped him.