Missing California Girl Shows Up In Oklahoma

A missing eight-year-old California girl is now in protective custody in Oklahoma after being abandoned in a hot, parked car in Miami.  News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports the child and another girl had been missing from a Los Angeles area foster home since Monday.  The search for the second girl is ongoing.

Eight-year-old Robin Lemus and her 12-year-old foster sister Estephanie Flores escaped from their foster home in San Dimas, California, driving off in their foster parents' car.  A day later, Lemus was found 1,500 miles away abandoned in a hot, parked car at the McDonalds in Miami.

"She was awake in the car.  She had been waiting.  It appears they abandoned her there.  She was waiting on them to return, but didn't know what to do," said Michael Rodriguez with the LA County Sheriff's Office.

She had been in the car for three hours in 95 degree weather.  She was thirsty, tired and scared.

"Very frightened.  We fed her, hydrated her and put her in a safe place," said Miami Police Detective Chris Leamon.

He says a tip to California investigators led Miami police to the McDonalds and the girl.

"In about 30 minutes, between information given to our dispatch and information to our patrol, we found the young girl," said Miami Police Detective Chris Leamon.

Lemus is in Oklahoma DHS custody, has been questioned by Miami detectives and will be questioned by detectives and a child welfare worker from California.

Meanwhile, the search is underway for the other missing girl and her biological mother.  Even though it's not certain they are still in Oklahoma.

Flores' mother, 38-year-old Iris Zavala is suspected of orchestrating the girls' escape from their foster parents' home.

They say they have promising leads in the investigation, but for now, Miami police are just thankful the eight year old was found and isn't injured.

Authorities in California say they haven't had any reports of problems at the foster home.  They don't know yet exactly when the eight-year-old girl will return to California.