ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – The girls that went missing from a Detroit suburb two weeks ago were found with their father’s ex-wife in Jacksonville early Sunday morning after a bounty hunter tracked her down.
Police said Courtney Ann Peck, 39, was arrested on two federal kidnapping charges after she failed to return James Peck’s two daughters to his Northville Township home two weeks ago.
The children were supposed to be back with their father on Aug. 21, but police said they had evidence that they were with their mother in South Carolina on Aug. 24 and in Georgia Aug. 26.
A third child was with Courtney Peck when she was arrested. The father of that child lives in Jacksonville and it's believed that the two have a relationship.
James Peck has shared custody with his ex-wife, and they often began and ended visitations in Northville. He said Courtney Peck, of Grosse Pointe Farms, never had a problem with visitation until he took the girls on what they called a "road trip."
A term that previously seemed innocent left him on the verge of panic.
"They must be terrified," James Peck said. "I have a feeling, just knowing my daughters, they’d be reaching out to Dad."
The federal kidnapping complaint says 8-year-old Caitlin and 5-year-old Charlotte, and a baby that Courtney Peck had with another man during the divorce, were believed to be headed to Florida with their mother.
Peck said he was haunted by "what ifs" because of Courtney Peck’s sometimes unstable behavior. She was charged last August with fleeing Grosse Pointe Farms police after they discovered her in a no-trespassing zone with the baby at 3 a.m.
Police used stop sticks to stop her.
Leading up to Courtney Peck’s arrest, James Peck feared the worst.
"I’m afraid that, you know, maybe they’re gone," James Peck said. "Maybe I’ll never see them again. And it’s concerning and makes me really upset."
He said he’s missing important milestones, like Charlotte’s birthday.
"(She was) becoming 5. We’d been practicing and taking training wheels off," James Peck said. "She said, you know, 'Looking forward to seeing you on my birthday,' which was this past Monday. And I didn’t hear from her and didn’t hear from the mom."
He was also afraid of missing her first day at school.
By fleeing, Courtney Peck also missed sentencing on the Grosse Pointe complaint.
In the interim, the court has given James Peck sole custody of the children, which he believes might have made his ex-wife's urge to run even stronger.
James Peck had an emotional night after his daughters were returned to him in Jacksonville.
"My gosh, I was so excited," James Peck said. "My youngest daughter was glued to my arm all night. We were just so excited to see them."
James Peck said he and his daughters are planning on heading back to Michigan Monday.
Courtney Peck is being held without bond in Duval County. Her next court date is scheduled for Sept. 6.