A missing six-year-old girl from Minnesota is finally back in the arms of her father after weeks of searching led to a joyful reunion in Nashville.
Claire Cooney was missing for a month but was eventually found after intense investigative work and cooperation with several law enforcement agencies.
Brian Cooney reunited with his daughter at the Radisson Hotel in Donelson on Monday. Cell phone video showed Claire running to her father and leaping into his arms.
"You just try not to cry because it was so wonderful to see them back together," Renee Brewer, a Nashville private investigator, told NewsChannel 5.
Brewer helped find Claire after she went missing last month following a custody dispute with her parents. Claire's mother, Miranda Cooney, skipped hearing over an order of protection, according to Brian's attorney.
Miranda is accused of taking the daughter with her boyfriend who had become a fugitive. Jonathan Bromen is a convicted felon who had a nationwide warrant out for his arrest for violating terms.
With ties to Tennessee, Brian hired Brewer who took ten days to locate the little girl in the woods of Monroe County.
Brewer said it took posting flyers, following up on several leads and working with law enforcement officials to track down Claire and the two adults in a wooden shack.
"Bromen was a selfish person, if you're going to run from the law then take off, if you want your girlfriend to go then that's her choice. Claire had no choice in the matter and that's just not fair and I don't like that," Brewer added.
Bromen will be extradited back to Minnesota and face additional charges.
It was unclear if the mother be charged.
