July 19--A 13-month-old girl who was kidnapped from a motel in Palmdale early Saturday was found unharmed about 12 hours later in a shed in the Mojave Desert, authorities said.
The infant, identified as Penelope Rodriguez, was found dehydrated but otherwise in good condition, according to Lt. Joseph Fender of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
The investigation led authorities to identify a person of interest in the case and the vehicle he was known to be driving, a blue Ford Contour.
Deputies later found the vehicle and its occupants, suspect Brandon Wynn and a male juvenile, authorities said.
Leads gained by sheriff's deputies led them to the shed in an unincorporated area of Palmdale where they found the child. Wynn and his male companion were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The suspect allegedly beat and sexually assaulted the baby's mother at a Palmdale motel and then kidnapped her daughter, authorities said.
The mother, whose identity has not been released, was treated and released from a local hospital.
marisa.gerber@latimes.com
bettina.boxall@latimes.com
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Update
12:45 p.m., July 19: This post has been updated with new information.
7:50 p.m.: This post has been updated with new details.
