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Mother Of Daughter Kidnapped From School Testifies, Jurors Brought To Tears

By Tony Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The mother of a girl kidnapped from her West Philadelphia elementary school and then sexually abused has taken the stand at the trial of the woman accused in the case.

The trial of a 21-year-old woman and daycare worker charged with physically and sexually assaulting the five-year-old girl kidnapped from Bryant Elementary School in Upper Darby in January of 2013 continued Wednesday.

Defendant Christina Regusters allegedly took the girl from the school by posing as her mother. The little girl was found about four blocks away the next day, shivering and hiding in an Upper Darby playground.

On Wednesday, the victim's mother spoke in court.

It began with a phone call—her daughter was not at school for pick-up at daycare—had she asked anyone to pick up her daughter? The mother started making calls to family and friends who could have picked up her daughter. They had no information.

Frantic, she sped to the school — already asking "where is my daughter, who has her?"

She looked at security video and to her horror, saw a woman in muslim garb walking out of the school with her daughter.

The little girl would be found about 19 hours after she was stolen, abused and injured.

At one point Wednesday, at least a couple of jurors were wiping away tears during the heartbreaking testimony.

 

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