Every now and then, the real-life story of a missing child ends with the child’s safe recovery. But the story of Brittany Mae Smith really caught my attention, even more than all the others, due to the fact that Smith, reported missing four days ago from Salem, VA, was spotted on Friday at the Safeway by Ocean Beach in San Francisco, accompanied by Jeffrey Scott Easley, the 32-year-old boyfriend of her mother. Until we moved out of the city  last year, this was our neighborhood Safeway, within walking distance of our house, where we did most of our grocery shopping. (This particular Safeway also happens to be just steps from the beach where the fictional Emma Balfour disappeared in The Year of Fog.)

A woman who had seen Brittany’s picture, along with the picture of Easley,spotted the pair. In addition to recognizing their faces, she recognized two tattoos on the alleged abductor.

On Friday, San Francisco police called Virginia police after the shopper spotted the fugitive and the girl at the Safeway at 48th Avenue and Fulton Street. They described distinctive tattoos Easley had on his calves to confirm his identity.

Despite her recovery, Brittany’s story is a tragic one. Her mother, 41-year-old Tina Smith, was found murdered on Monday, and Easley is suspected in the woman’s death.It is unclear exactly how long Brittany was with her abductor, but, according to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, “Easley and the girl were recorded on video buying a blue tent at a Walmart near the victim’s home, possibly on the day of the slaying, believed to be Dec. 3.”

Police say Easley and Brittany were staying in a homeless encampment near Ocean Beach, possibly in Golden Gate Park. Some reports state that Brittany had told a friend she was afraid that Easley would harm her mother and take her away. The fact that Brittany was found–and found relatively quickly– can be attributed to media attention, the Amber Alert, and a conscientious citizen who acted on her her hunch and called police.

Coincidentally, Brittany’s recovery came on Friday, December 10, the same day that a federal jury found Brian David Mitchell guilty of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart, who was 14 years old at the time, in 2002 and transporting her across state lines with the intent of engaging in sexual activity. Smart’s ordeal lasted a harrowing nine months; much of that time was spent in an encampment in the woods near Smart’s home. According to Ed Smart, Elizabeth, who spent three days testifying in court against Mitchell, now hopes to become a prosecutor.

Sign up to have Amber Alerts sent to you by text at wirelessamberralerts.org.