Child Abducted In Downingtown Is Safe; Mother Arrested

DOWNINGTOWN, PA — A mother was arrested Thursday in Virginia on charges of kidnapping her 6-year-old daughter during a custody visit Tuesday afternoon at East Ward Elementary School in Downingtown.

Venessa Gutshall, 37, was arrested during a traffic stop at 11:30 a.m. in McLean, Va., when police stopped her for driving with a stolen license plate.

Her daughter, 6-year-old Zoe Moss, was found hidden in the backseat under a blanket, police said.

The child appeared unharmed, but she will undergo a medical examination soon, police said.

Gutshall,who is homeless, is awaiting extradition to Chester County on charges of kidnapping, unlawfal restraint of a minor and related charges.

Zoe Moss was reported missing Tuesday night, prompting an Amber Alert being issued.

The alert was canceled Thursday afternoon.

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan thanked law enforcement for saving the young victim's life.

"Local, county, and federal law enforcement worked around the clock and never gave up hope of finding this little girl," Ryan said. "She is safe tonight because of the efforts of Downingtown police, the FBI, Chester County detectives, Fairfax (VA) County police, and law enforcement from Dauphin, York, and Lancaster counties."

Downingtown Police Chief Howard Holland said Zoe was is protected from futher harm.

"Today was a very good day,” the chief said.

According to the police compaint:

• The child was at the elementary school for a court-ordered, non-school-related supervised visit with the defendant, her biological mother.

• Gutshall did not have custody rights to the child and was only permitted to see the child during supervised visits.
• The supervisor of the visit, who worked as a contractor for Chester County Children, Youth & Family reported to police that the mother fled with the child in a gray 2016 Volkswagen Jetta in direct violation of a court order.
• Gutshall was seen later that day at the Rivertowne Restaurant & Bar in Wrightsville, about an hour west of Downingtown near York, without the child.
• An Amber Alert was issued by Pennsylvania state police soon after.