US: A six-year-old girl thought to have died in a fire as an infant has been found alive after being raised by a woman who may have set the blaze and abducted the baby, authorities said.
DNA tests confirmed that Delimar Vera is the biological daughter of Ms Luz Cuevas, who recognised her by her dimples in a chance meeting at a birthday party in Philadelphia two months ago.
The woman who raised Delimar, Ms Carolyn Correa (41), of Willingboro, New Jersey, was being sought by police. She is charged with 15 offences, including kidnapping, aggravated assault and arson.
Police suspect Ms Correa, thought to be related to the girl's father, set the 1997 fire in Philadelphia as a cover that would allow her to abduct the child.
Authorities at the time concluded that the 10-day-old baby's body had been consumed by the blaze. Ms Cuevas said she had always suspected that the girl did not die in the fire.
Officials said Ms Cuevas would be reunited with her daughter when the girl was judged to be emotionally prepared.
- (Reuters)
