SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A 17-year-old high Columbia County school soccer player who ran off with a 27-year-old coach a week ago was reunited with her parents Saturday in Syracuse, New York.
"We had a very, beautiful, wonderful, very emotional reunion with her a little while ago, and we are so thankful to have her back," Caitlyn Frisina's mother, Scarlet, said in a statement.
Caitlyn Frisina and Rian Rodriguez, 27, were the center of a nationwide search that ended after 4 p.m. Friday when they were pulled over by a New York State Police officer who spotted the red Mercury Sable the pair were believed to be traveling in, authorities said.
Rodriguez was arrested on a charge of interference in child custody and Caitlyn was detained, deputies said. He has a hearing Monday to determine if he’ll be extradited to Florida.
Deputies in Florida said the family flew to Syracuse Saturday.
"They left early this morning. They got there around 11 o’clock," Columbia County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Murray Smith said. "The flight could not be soon enough. They were ready to be there in an instant."
Scarlet Frisina posted pictures on social media of the weary family embracing each other. The family gave an emotional statement thanking law enforcement and expressing relief. Caitlyn did not speak.
The family is expected to return to Florida on Sunday.