Elinor Trotta returns home with her mother to Delaware

NEW CASTLE, Del. (WPVI) -- Three-year-old Elinor Trotta is back home with her mother in Delaware today after an Amber Alert tracked the girl to Massachusetts.

Elinor danced and scrambled like any other 3-year-old as she left New Castle County Police Wednesday afternoon.

Her mother, Dawn Barkus, says she's perfect.

"She's happy to be home. That's all she kept asking me last night, 'Are we going home? Are we going home?' She got to fly on the plane for the first time. She loves planes," Barkus said.

Authorities found Elinor and her father, Michael Trotta, in Spencer, Massachusetts yesterday after a multi-state Amber Alert was issued.

Police there reportedly say Trotta had a knife and was trying to kill himself when taken into custody.

Investigators say the ordeal started after Trotta assaulted and carjacked Barkus, and kidnapped Elinor from the Schoolside Apartments.

Barkus says, "It was a nightmare. I've never felt pain like that in my life. But I'm thankful she's home. A lot of good people worked on the case and I appreciate everything everybody's done."

Officer First Class Tom Jackson from New Castle County Police explains, "During the original investigation there were statements made that caused us concern...that caused us concern for he and the child's welfare."

Carrying a photo of his daughter, Trotta waived extradition this morning.

A relative, Kim Thomas, who lives in Massachusetts says the 43-year-old reached out on Tuesday and said he wanted to visit. She had no idea he was wanted by police. Upon learning, she pleaded him to turn himself in.

Thomas tells us, "What was he going to do? Run? He can't keep her on the run. It wasn't fair to her ... He was actually talking about doing something to harm the baby and himself."

Court records reveal Trotta has a long criminal history for theft, burglary, stalking and assault.

He now faces assault, carjacking, endangering the welfare of a child, and reckless endangerment.