3-year-old Gastonia girl found, abductor arrested and AMBER Alert expires

This story was updated as of 6:00 p.m. EST Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018.

An AMBER Alert was issued Sunday for Destiny Boykins, a 3-year-old who was allegedly abducted from a Gastonia apartment.

Destiny, 3, was found safe after being abducted by Maurice Knox, 57, WSOC and WFMY reported Sunday afternoon. Knox was arrested by U.S. Marshals and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police, according to the Gastonia Police Department.

The AMBER Alert did not say if Knox is related to Destiny.

Destiny was returned to her mother Sunday afternoon, according to Gastonia police.

Knox was charged with several offenses in Gastonia, including two counts of kidnapping, two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer, child endangerment and assault on a female, among others.

He was also found to have violated a domestic violence protection order in Gaston County, and Gastonia police said he may be charged with more offenses in other jurisdictions.

Destiny was abducted from an apartment in the 2000 block of East Hudson Boulevard in Gastonia, the alert said.

The AMBER Alert previously listed a black 2012 Honda Accord, but Charlotte police located the car abandoned on Interstate 77, WSOC reported, and the AMBER Alert was updated to reflect a new vehicle — a brown 2015 Nissan Altima — police believed Knox was using to transport Destiny. The alert said Knox could be taking Destiny to an address in the 2700 block of Wingate Avenue in Charlotte.

This story was originally published November 11, 2018 at 9:50 AM.