SALT LAKE CITY — It was a joyous reunion Tuesday as a father from Pennsylvania was reunited with his 4-year-old daughter after not seeing her for two months.
"Twelve weeks and four days," Joseph Kilmer Jr. said was the exact time.
Kilmer hadn't seen his daughter, Ryla, since December. His estranged wife had taken her in a custody dispute. But Joseph Kilmer had full custodial rights.
But earlier in February, law enforcement was involved and a nationwide alert was issued for Laura Kilmer. What had authorities especially concerned was that they had evidence that Kilmer had recently purchased a gun and she allegedly made threats that if he saw police moving in on her, she would shoot Ryla and then herself.
Last week, Utah's Joint Criminal Apprehension Team received information that Kilmer was staying with a relative in West Valley City. JCAT agents kept surveillance on the house since Friday, patiently waiting for their opportunity to act.
Sunday night, Kilmer and her daughter got into their packed-up car, and appeared to be headed out to be on the run again, according to supervisory deputy U.S. Marshal Jim Phelps, head of JCAT.
That opportunity came a short time later when Kilmer stopped for gas. When she went inside the convenience store to pay, she left her daughter in the car. U.S. marshals used that separation to make their move, arresting Kilmer as she walked back out of the store and taking her daughter into protective custody.
The extra precaution used by JCAT may have paid off, as a loaded handgun was found underneath the seat in Kilmer's car.
Shortly after Ryla was recovered, her father, who lives in Dubois, Pa., got a call from Phelps. Initially, Joseph Kilmer said he missed the call and had to listen to a voice message at 1:30 a.m. Monday.
"The most amazing thing was getting that call," Kilmer said. "I truly thought it was a dream."
Kilmer immediately called Phelps back and found out he wasn't dreaming.
"He immediately said Ryla was OK," Kilmer said.
Since that phone call, Kilmer said he hasn't slept. He was finally able to book a flight to Utah on Tuesday, landing at the Salt Lake International Airport about 4 p.m. A short time later, he was at the Christmas Box House in Salt Lake, a shelter for young children.
As Kilmer pulled into the parking lot, he said he could see Ryla in the window.
"I came to the window and I was doing the 'I love you' sign (with my hand)," he said.
The tearful reunion was completed with a "great big hug."
"Ryla and I didn't miss a beat. And then it was real," he said of being able to hold his daughter again for the first time in 12 weeks. "Ryla said, 'I missed you, Da-Da.' I said, 'I missed you, too.' She said, 'I love you, Da-Da.'"
Kilmer and his daughter went to get a bite to eat at KFC before boarding an 11 p.m. flight back to Pennsylvania. He said he was "thrilled" that he had his daughter back and couldn't give enough praise to Phelps, the U.S. marshals, the JCAT team and anyone else who had a role in Ryla's recovery.
"It was a whole team that helped rescue Ryla," he said. "It's the greatest feeling in the world."
Laura Kilmer remained in custody Wednesday, waiting to be extradited back to Pennsylvania to face charges.
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