Abducted 2-year-old girl died of carbon monoxide poisoning

An abducted 2-year-old girl and her father died from carbon monoxide poisoning from the exhaust pipe of the SUV they were found in, the girl's grandfather said.

The bodies of kidnapped 2-year-old Madeline Samaan-Fay and her father, Mourad Samaan, were found by local authorities about 50 miles east of Sacramento at a remote property the father owned, officials said.

Authorities plan to conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death of the two, who were found in the father's SUV in the Grizzly Flats section of El Dorado County.

The kidnapping of Madeline prompted a statewide Amber Alert.

Officials said they went to the area after a tip from the FBI. FBI officials said they turned over the case to local authorities.

In an interview with the Sacramento Bee, the girl's grandfather revealed the cause of death -- which authorities have not confirmed. Makram Samaan also spoke of the ugly custody fight between his son and the girl's mother.

Madeline was abducted Aug. 7, but because of rules involving abductions by parents, an Amber Alert was not issued until Friday, five days later.

Officials said they came to fear for the girl's life at that point.

Madeline and her father were last seen on a store surveillance video the day she was abducted.

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-- Shelby Grad

Photo: Mourad Samaan and daughter Madeline Samaan-Fay in a family photo. Credit: Fox 40