ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 22, 1996 TAG: 9608220053
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE
SOURCE: Associated Press
A DRIVER RESCUED the girl early Tuesday after seeing her about to crawl across a residential street.
The mother of a 1-year-old girl who was found abandoned and crawling along a Chesapeake road was found slain Wednesday in Prince George County, and the woman's boyfriend was being held for questioning, police said.
The body of Antitca Moniquie Hurt, 20, was found about 6:30 p.m. in a wooded area near Interstate 95. She had been strangled with a belt, said Lt. R.W. Blystone of the Prince George County Police Department.
Hurt was 9 months pregnant. Malcolm Ruffin, who authorities said was the father of the child she was carrying, was taken into custody.
``This seemed to be some type of a domestic problem,'' Blystone said. He said Ruffin told authorities where to find the body.
The toddler, Jaliyuah Hurt, was identified earlier Wednesday by relatives who came to Chesapeake from Petersburg after a family friend saw the girl's picture on television, said Chesapeake Detective Richard Black.
Jaliyuah had been living in Petersburg with her mother. Police were still trying to determine how Jaliyuah got to Chesapeake, more than 50 miles southeast of Petersburg.
Black said the girl was friendly, seemed to have been well cared for and wasn't abused.
Lisa Parker, who found Jaliyuah, said she thinks a guardian angel was watching over the girl.
Parker was driving to work early Tuesday when she saw the girl in her headlights about to crawl across a residential street. She stopped her car, got out, scooped up the whimpering child and called police.
``I know this is of God,'' she said. ``I believe all kids have their angel.
The girl had a mild case of hypothermia but was otherwise healthy, authorities said. Hospital officials estimated she may have been outside as long as two hours.
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Jaliyuah Hurt. KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB