VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A Volusia County mother told Local 6 her daughter is home safe after Cara Cox was kidnapped nearly 5 years ago.
Through a closed door from her home in Deltona, Jodie Borchert explained that she nor Cara, now 12, were ready to face cameras. She said the family needs time to heal and adjust.
"They just need time, they to celebrate," said neighbor Yianzza Negron. "Everyone is anxious to know, but they need their space."
Volusia County Sheriff's Deputies said Jodie Borchert had legal custody of her daughter in 2009, when her daughter Cara was 8 years old.
Deputies said during a regular weekend visitation with her father, Aaron Cox, Cara disappeared, along with Cox.
Borchert filed a missing persons report with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office in August 2009.
Deputies immediately issued an arrest warrant for Cox, charging him with interference with child custody.
For nearly five years there were no viable leads, but investigators never gave up hope that the child would one day be found.
Deputies were able to find out through a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that the girl, who is now 12 years old, and Cox were spotted in Mexico.
As deputies worked with national and international agencies, they were able to find Cox and the girl in the remote mountains of Hidalgo, Mexico.
Authorities were able to arrest Cox and learned he had been living under assumed names with no known ties to Mexico.
Borchert and her daughter were reunited in Miami and deputies were working to extradite Cox back to Volusia County.
Borchert said she was working with an attorney to share their story and answer questions when they are ready.