A 4-year-old Colorado girl who had been reported missing after being picked up from school by her non-custodial father has been found safe, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Vera Spencer was reported missing after her father, 50-year-old Daniel Spencer, picked her up from her school in Brighton at approximately 8 a.m. on Friday, August 28, 2026. Authorities said the pair had not been seen since, prompting a statewide search and eventually leading the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to issue an Endangered Missing Alert on Wednesday, September 2.
The alert was issued approximately five days after Vera was last seen, as investigators worked to determine where the child and her father might have gone.
Authorities had released descriptions of both Vera and Daniel in hopes that members of the public would recognize them. Vera was described as a 4-year-old white girl with blonde hair and brown eyes. She was listed as approximately 3 feet 5 inches tall and weighing about 40 pounds.
Daniel Spencer was described as a 50-year-old white man with brown hair and hazel eyes. Investigators said he was approximately 6 feet tall and weighed about 175 pounds.
The investigation involved the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, which appealed to the public for information that could help locate the pair.
Authorities also identified two vehicles that Daniel Spencer might have been driving. One was described as a silver Pontiac Bonneville, while the other was a 2016 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck.
Information concerning the Pontiac’s license plate changed during the investigation. CBI initially reported an unidentified plate displaying “XCOA8W,” but later clarified that the plate was registered in Missouri.
The Dodge Ram was reportedly registered with Colorado plates reading “ROBOTX.” Investigators encouraged anyone who saw either vehicle, Vera, or Daniel to report the sighting rather than attempting to approach them directly.
Members of the public were asked to call 911 or contact the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office at 970-867-2461 with any potentially relevant information.
The search generated concern throughout the region as authorities attempted to establish the whereabouts of the child and her father following the school pickup.
By late Wednesday night, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation announced that Vera had been safely located. The agency did not initially provide extensive information about where she was found or explain the circumstances that led to her recovery.
Authorities also did not publicly confirm whether Daniel Spencer had been taken into custody.
Because Vera is a minor, additional details about her location, condition, and the circumstances surrounding her recovery may remain limited. Officials have not provided a complete account of what occurred during the period between the school pickup and her eventual safe return.
The case unfolded over approximately a week, beginning with the disappearance report and escalating to an Endangered Missing Alert before authorities announced that the child had been found.
Questions may remain regarding the role of custody arrangements in the disappearance. Reports described Daniel Spencer as Vera’s non-custodial father, but the Colorado Bureau of Investigation has not publicly stated whether the circumstances resulted in any violation of a court order.
There has also been no public announcement confirming criminal charges against Daniel Spencer. In cases involving a parent who is not the custodial parent, authorities may examine possible offenses such as custodial interference, depending on the circumstances and applicable court orders.
However, no such charge has been publicly confirmed in this case, and it would be inappropriate to assume that a crime occurred solely because the father was described as non-custodial.
The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office has not issued a separate detailed statement explaining the circumstances surrounding Vera’s recovery. Most of the publicly available information has come through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s missing-person alert system.
The successful recovery of Vera brought an end to the immediate search for the 4-year-old, providing relief to those who had been concerned about her safety.
While authorities have not released a detailed timeline of the events following the August 28 school pickup, the confirmation that Vera was found safe is the most significant development in the case.
The investigation may continue as officials determine whether any laws were violated and whether further action is necessary. Any decisions concerning potential charges would depend on evidence gathered by investigators and the specific circumstances surrounding the child’s disappearance.
For now, authorities have confirmed that Vera Spencer is safe. Further information about her recovery, Daniel Spencer’s status, or any potential legal proceedings may be released if officials determine that additional details can be made public.
The case ultimately moved from a missing-child investigation and statewide emergency alert to a safe recovery, bringing relief to Vera’s family and the wider community that had been watching for information about her whereabouts.
