KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – A missing central Missouri woman and her young daughter are safe, and the woman is in custody for allegedly fabricating their abduction.

Chariton County Sheriff Chris Hughes said 28-year-old Rachel Koechner and 4-year-old Zoee Sandner were found safe by authorities late Monday evening. They were found with Koechner’s ex-husband, who was not charged in the case but was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for forgery charges.

Police said Koechner was reported missing after she had not been seen for several days but had left a text message indicating she was in trouble.