Missing 8-Year-Old From Oregon Located in California; Mother Arrested

The supects daughter was in good condition and has been released to Child Protective Services.

Photo: Mammoth Lakes Police Department.

(MAMMOTH LAKES, Calif. ) - The Oregon State Police have been informed of the recovery of an 8-year old missing child and the arrest of her mother in Mammoth Lakes, California following a tip related to a kidnapping/parental abduction investigation that started in March 2005.

Information from Mammoth Lakes Police Department indicates that on Thursday, a FBI agent from the South Lake Tahoe office contacted their department related to a tip on a case that had been featured on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website.

The case involved a female child, currently 8 years of age, and her mother, 33-year-old Heidi Pietsch (aka Roberts).

Based upon information, Mammoth Lakes Police Sergeant Marc Moscowitz, MONET Agent Smith, and Detective Lehr began an investigation that led ultimately to the suspect, Pietsch, and her 8-year old daughter being concealed in a residence in the Bluffs area of Mammoth Lakes.

Pietsch was taken into custody without incident.

Pietsch was lodged in the Mono County Jail on a federal Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution warrant.

Since the Oregon State Police investigation began in March 2005, a Lincoln County judge awarded full custody to the child's father in September 2005.

An arrest warrant out of Lincoln County was also issued.

A few tips were received by Oregon State Police and FBI, some of which came through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, but the tips did not lead to where the suspect and child were prior to last week's developments.