The infant had last been seen with her father's sister, Julia Schoolcraft, at about 11 p.m. Friday in Cathedral City, according to the California Highway Patrol.
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The CHP and Cathedral City police released photos of the baby and the suspect, along with a description of a stolen 2006 Hummer H2 that was being sought.
Shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday, the Banning police located the Hummer in their jurisdiction and took Schoolcraft into custody, the Highway Patrol said in a statement. The child was not inside the vehicle.
The suspect "cooperated with officers and led them to where she dropped off the infant, a Motel 6 in Beaumont," the news release said. "The infant was located in a motel room with friends of Schoolcraft, unharmed."
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The baby was reunited with her parents, according to the CHP. The suspect was booked on suspicion of kidnapping, and child endangerment.