On Sunday night, June 21, 12-year-old girl named Cassidy Hayes was abducted in Cathedral City, Calif., by 22-year-old Michael Malloch Jr. who authorities believe is the stepbrother of Cassidy’s mother. Malloch who police believe is suicidal, drove off with Cassidy in a 2002 Gold Subaru Legacy with California plates.
At 9:15 a.m. Monday morning, DPS Dispatch was contacted by authorities from Cathedral City, Calif., that the pair had been spotted at a Munds Park Shell station. An amber alert was immediately issued. DPS received numerous calls of sightings including a tip that the vehicle was northbound on State Route 89 just outside of Flagstaff.
DPS Trooper Jesse Livingston, who is just three weeks out of the academy, was on his way home, which is near Page, when he heard the call on his DPS radio. An hour later the vehicle was spotted just south of Page. The Livingston spotted the vehicle and he and another trooper conducted a felony stop. Malloch surrendered without incident.
Cassidy was frightened but appeared to be unharmed. She was taken to Flagstaff to eventually be reunited with her family. Malloch will be turned over to the custody of the FBI.