Byron Black, left, murdered Kelly Black and took their daughter, Lela Black, authorities said. (Images: Kentucky State Police)
Update: Kentucky State police announced Monday that they found Lela Black safe, and authorities arrested Byron Black.
**UPDATE** The missing child, Lela Black, has been located safely. Byron Black has been taken into custody. Thank you to everyone who retweeted and shared! https://t.co/sHSwxh8UWM
— KY State Police (@kystatepolice) January 29, 2024
Our original article is below.
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Kentucky authorities put out an Amber Alert after a man allegedly shot his child's mother in the back of the head and abducted the girl.
The suspect, Byron Black, 42, and the missing daughter, Lela Black, 5, were last heard from on Friday, but state police were dispatched to the murder scene on Sunday, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
"He is suspected to be armed and dangerous," they wrote.
Lela had been living in the Caldwell County city of Princeton, Kentucky, which is in the western part of the state.
"On January 28, 2024 KSP was dispatched to the residence that the juvenile was known to reside in Princeton, KY," they wrote.
Authorities discovered Lela's mother, Kelly Black, dead.
"Through investigation it was determined that Black received a gunshot wound to the back of the head," they wrote.
Investigators determined that Lela and her biological father, Byron Black, had not been heard from since Friday.
Officers believe that the father carried out the killing, and they put out an arrest warrant on him in addition to the Amber Alert.
Investigators suggest that he and Lela could be in a white 1996 Chevrolet Silverado with the California license plate 5J83779. Its paint is peeling off the hood.
They could be traveling in a 1996 Chevrolet Silverado with the license plate 5J83779 and paint peeling off the hood. Anyone with information regarding this should contact KSP Post 2 at 270-676-3313.
More information: https://t.co/odQJf7MVTA— KY State Police (@kystatepolice) January 29, 2024
Lela is described as white, with brown hair and brown eyes. She stands three feet, six inches, and weighs 40 pounds.
Byron Black is described as white, with brown hair and brown eyes. He stands an even 6 feet and weighs 180 pounds.
"Anyone with information regarding this should contact KSP Post 2 at 270-676-3313," Kentucky State Police wrote.
