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Miracle Adu Rescue: Denver Police Detective Broke Into Freezing Car To Save Missing Toddler

DENVER (CBS4)- The Denver Police Detective Gavin Whitman, who found missing toddler Miracle Adu on Thursday night, talked about his experience. He broke into the car to get to the 18-month-old while it was snowing and freezing outside.

"I was in the northeast area of Denver meeting up with some Aurora detectives searching the area, in a somewhat systematic fashion, when I came across the vehicle," said Whitman.

"There was a little bit of snow on it. I cleared that off and immediately saw baby Miracle sitting in the car seat of the vehicle. I attempted to open the door which didn't work, so I went to my patrol car an retrieved a baton."

Whitman, son of former Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman, said he broke a window on the Fiat to get to Miracle, who was still in her car seat.

He said she was crying and scared. Miracle was found in a Fiat at North Monaco Parkway and MLK Jr. Boulevard.

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Whitman immediately called for paramedics to help while he placed her in his warm police cruiser. Miracle was rushed to Children's Hospital. It is unclear how long she was in the car.

Miracle was last seen with her mother, Tiffany Hardy, in the 2700 block of Gaylord Street in Denver around 5 p.m. Wednesday. The baby's father reported both of them missing just after noon on Thursday.

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Gavin Whitman (credit: CBS)

Hardy was located Thursday morning at 4th Avenue and Leyden Street in Denver, without Miracle. According to police, Hardy was naked and incoherent at the time she was found.

"They tried to determine if she was with anybody, how she got there... she was just not able to answer those questions at that time," said Denver Police Division Chief Joe Montoya.

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Aurora police said Miracle was found several miles away Thursday night, seemingly unharmed, in Hardy's 2016 Fiat.

Montoya said the investigation into what happened continues and that Hardy may be a victim or may be facing charges.

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"Just relief. The moment from finding the car to seeing her to breaking the window was short, but you go through the whole range of emotions," said Whitman.

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