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Girl returned to NC as police continue search for her father, last seen in Va., in murder case

Posted at 11:53 AM, Dec 28, 2011
and last updated 2011-12-28 11:56:30-05

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A little girl is back in North Carolina with her grandparents as police search for her father, who they plan to charge with the shooting death of the girl’s mother.

Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Debbie Tanna says 22-month-old Juliana Reyes is with her mother’s parents after being found Tuesday at a Food Lion in Newport News, Va.

Investigators say her father dropped her off at the supermarket after fleeing North Carolina with the girl in tow. Police plan to charge 23-year-old Alexander Zelaya with first-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old Marianna Reyes, the girl’s mother.

Her body was found with multiple gunshot wounds in front of her Fayetteville home early Tuesday morning.

Police in North Carolina and Virginia are continuing to search for Zelaya.