Father reunites with missing daughter

RUSSELLVILLE, Ky.- A 3-year-old girl and her father have been reunited following her alleged abduction. Her father spoke to WNKY News in an exclusive interview about his daughter’s safe return, and their plans to move forward.

Amya Grace Otero is now in protective custody. She spent the weekend reconnecting with her father Daniel Otero, who she last saw on April 26 prior to an emergency custody hearing in which Daniel was granted emergency custody.

Amya is now safe and appears unharmed. Though life for the young girl has drastically changed.

“She is under constant surveillance and monitoring for her safety. She’s safe now, and we intend to do whatever it takes to ensure that,” said Otero.

There was one incident over the weekend when Amya woke up hysterical after having what Daniel believes to have been a bad dream.

“When she woke up and I heard her crying, I came to her and held her. She was saying that the police took her mom,” said Otero.

Amya was found with her mother Amanda Otero on Friday at the at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services office in Bowling Green.

“According to what my baby told me, where they were there just wasn’t anything to eat or supply them with what they needed. I’m assuming that’s out of desperation what caused her to come out of hiding,” said Otero.

For the most part Daniel says Amya appears to be happy, spending most of her time playing with makeup.

“I blame Carrie Underwood because it was the ‘Love Wins’ video where she noticed Carrie Underwood painted the way that she was,” said Otero.

Amanda Otero was arraigned Monday afternoon in Logan County District Court. She faces charges of kidnapping a minor, third-degree terroristic threatening and intimidating a participant in the legal process and custodial interference.