Skip to main content
Cloudy icon
42º

Missing 3-year-old Michigan girl found safe; father accused of assaulting girl's mom

Father faces assault, domsetic violence charges

HOLLY, Mich. – A 3-year-old girl who had been reportedly missing since Sunday was found safe Tuesday morning when her father called Michigan State Police.

Brent Owings allegedly took Vadalynn Mayjean Owings early Sunday morning and had not talked to her mother, who is his ex, and the rest of his family since. The family was concerned of his whereabouts with the girl, although legally it was his weekend to have custody of the toddler. 

On Monday night, state police issued an Endangered Missing Advisory for the girl. Her grandmother said this all started Sunday morning when Brent Owings and the girl's mother had an argument. Owings allegedly assaulted the woman before leaving the home and going to get Vadalynn from his mother's house. 

"The last two days I didn't know where he was, what he had done. His state of mind in his Facebook posts have been very dark. I was terrified that he might have done something because he said, basically, 'if I can't have you, nobody will,'" said Windy Marion, Vadalynn's grandmother. 

Owings called state police Tuesday morning to tell them he had brought Vadalynn to her grandfather. She ultimately was reunited with her mother. He also turned himself in on other charges for what allegedly happened Sunday morning with Vadalynn's mother. Owings faces burglary or forced entry, assault by strangulation and domestic violence charges. 

RELATED: Michigan changing Amber Alert criteria in 2017

Sign up for ClickOnDetroit breaking news alerts and email newsletters


About the Authors
Nick Monacelli headshot

Nick joined the Local 4 team in February of 2015. Prior to that he spent 6 years in Sacramento covering a long list of big stories including wildfires and earthquakes. Raised in Sterling Heights, he is no stranger to the deep history and pride Detroit has to offer.

Loading...