Cops: Mom, missing girl found in car with blocked tailpipe

DUDLEY, Mass. – Police say a Massachusetts woman who sparked an Amber Alert when she threatened to harm her 3-year-old daughter was found with the girl inside an idling car with the exhaust pipe stuffed with clothing.

Lee-Ann Rickheit was held on $500,000 bail Thursday after pleading not guilty to charges including attempted murder.

Police say the 38-year-old Rickheit called a relative in Worcester on Wednesday and made a comment about harming the child. That relative called police.

They were found Thursday morning in a wooded area of Charlton, about 15 miles (24 kilometres) away.

Troopers say mother and daughter appeared to be either sleeping or unconscious. A trooper smashed a window and both were hospitalized.

The child is OK.

Rickheit’s attorney said her client didn’t think her daughter would be harmed because she cracked open a window.

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This story has been corrected to show that Rickheit and her daughter were found early Thursday, not late Wednesday.