CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 4-year-old Rock Island girl who was the subject of an Amber Alert earlier this month was never abducted, and was safe at home the entire time, police said.

A 4-year-old Rock Island girl who was reported missing after an apparent kidnapping during an auto theft, triggering a statewide Amber Alert, was never missing, police said at a press conference Thursday.

The Rock Island Police Department announced that 4-year-old Blessing Aoci, who was the subject of an Amber Alert after her mother's car was reported stolen, was

A missing 4-year-old girl who was the subject of an Amber Alert in Rock Island on Thursday morning has been found safe.

While hundreds of people – including FBI agents and volunteers throughout the Quad Cities – searched for a missing 4-year-old girl, she was safely in her home, according to Rock Island Police Chief Tim McCloud.

A 4-year-old girl who went missing Thursday morning after a vehicle she was inside was stolen in Rock Island has been located safely, according to Rock Island police. The incident led to the issuance of a statewide Amber Alert.

A 4-year-old Rock Island girl who was the subject of an Amber Alert earlier this month was never abducted, and was safe at home the entire time, police said.

At a Thursday morning press conference, Rock Island Police Chief Tim McCloud said Blessing Aoci was in her home during the search.