TAVARES, Fla. – A Florida woman is facing charges after she allegedly kidnapped her 5-year-old grandson, Jace Saunders, of Tavares on Sunday, prompting an AMBER Alert, according to police.

Kelly Day-Dasilva, 50, was arrested on charges of kidnapping and interference with child custody, Tavares police announced at a news conference Monday morning.

Authorities said they were notified around 8:30 a.m. that she had taken Jace to Lady Lake police. He was found safe and in good health and has since been in the care of the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

On Sunday, police and DCF officers went to a home on Tara Drive in Tavares to remove Jace from a relative’s care and turn him over to DCF. However, Jace wasn’t at the residence; He was reportedly on a golf cart ride with a family friend, Mitchell Morris. The relative contacted Morris and instructed him to return Jace.

Morris returned to the house without Jace and later admitted handing him over to Day-Dasilva at a local park to prevent the child from being taken by DCF, police said.

Before Morris returned, the relative attempted to contact Jace’s parents, Taylor Judy and Brandon Saunders, who were reportedly “verbally hostile” and refused to allow Jace’s surrender to the state.

Judy, Saunders and Morris were all arrested on child custody charges, officials said.

Saunders faces an additional charge of resisting without violence after he allegedly expressed hostility toward officers and refused to provide information that could help find his son.

DCF said they have an extensive history with the family regarding domestic matters.

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