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Mom who triggered Amber Alert faces attempted murder charge

WORCESTER, Mass. — The mother who triggered an Amber Alert when she took her 3-year-old daughter from a home in Worcester is facing several charges, including attempted murder.

Leeann Rickheit, 38, was arraigned in Dudley District Court Thursday morning.

Massachusetts State Police said that when troopers located Rickheit’s car in the woods in Charlton, Rickheit and her daughter were in the car, the car was running and the tailpipe had been stuffed with clothing, blocking the exhaust.

Troopers said they found Rickheit and her daughter either sleeping or unconscious in the car.

Prosecutors said Rickheit researched carbon monoxide poisoning and admitted to sending suicidal texts to her mother. She also left a suicide note, said the prosecutor.

UPDATE: State police said they located the woman and her daughter in a running car, and the tail pipe was stuffed with...

Posted by Boston 25 News on Thursday, August 10, 2017

A trooper was able to smash the window of the car to remove the child and Rickheit. Two ambulances were called to the scene and the girl was taken to UMass Medical Center.

Rickheit was taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester.

The girl is reported to be in good condition and Rickheit, who was kept under police guard, was held at the State Police Barracks in Sturbridge and will be arraigned on charges of attempted murder, assault and battery on a child and reckless endangerment of a child.

State police said the car was located on the back side of a pond located through the woods behind the Country Store at 113 Stafford St. in Charlton.

Investigators said they were able to locate Rickheit and the girl after members of the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section obtained information indicating Rickheit frequented the wooded area where they were located.

The mother was ordered held on $500,000 bail and she is due back in court on Sept. 16.

State police issued the Amber Alert Wednesday night around 10:45 p.m. after they said a family member heard Rickheit make threats to harm the child and herself during a phone conversation around 7:45 p.m. That person then called police, which in turn led to the Amber Alert.

The Amber Alert was canceled hours later just before 3:30 a.m. after they pair was located.

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