5 Critical Facts About The Columbia Heights Amber Alert And The Safe Recovery Of Dior Gooch

The Columbia Heights Amber Alert that captivated Minnesota residents recently concluded with the best possible outcome: the safe recovery of the abducted 3-week-old infant, Dior Gooch. The incident, which triggered a widespread emergency notification across the state, highlighted the critical efficiency of the state's alert system and the rapid response of local law enforcement in collaboration with the public.

As of today, December 17, 2025, the community is reflecting on the swift and successful resolution of this high-stakes case. The alert, which was issued after the newborn was allegedly taken from a legal guardian's home in Columbia Heights, Anoka County, quickly spread essential information about the infant and the suspect, Ashley Marie Gooch, leading to their location and the suspect's subsequent arrest in Minneapolis. The details surrounding the suspect, the timeline of the abduction, and the mechanism of the Amber Alert system are crucial for understanding the full scope of the emergency.

Profile: Who is Ashley Marie Gooch?

The individual at the center of the Columbia Heights Amber Alert was identified by authorities as Ashley Marie Gooch. Her profile and connection to the infant were immediately critical to the initial search and subsequent arrest. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the Columbia Heights Police Department released key details to the public to aid in the search.

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• Name: Ashley Marie Gooch
• Age: 37 years old
• Location: Columbia Heights, Minnesota
• Relationship to Victim: Biological Mother of the abducted infant, Dior Gooch.
• Incident Role: Allegedly abducted 3-week-old Dior Gooch from the residence of the child's legal guardian. Reports indicate she threatened violence toward the guardian during the incident.
• Physical Description: Authorities described her as 5 feet, 5 inches tall.
• Arrest Status: Gooch was arrested without incident after being located in Minneapolis.
• Warrant Details: At the time of her arrest, Ashley Gooch was booked on an outstanding warrant from Anoka County. One source indicates this warrant may have been related to a charge of Vehicle Theft.

The presence of a legal guardian suggests a complex custody situation, which often underlies cases of parental abduction. The immediate concern for law enforcement was the safety of the 3-week-old infant, especially given the reported threats of violence.

The Critical Timeline of the Abduction and Recovery

The success of the Columbia Heights Amber Alert was largely due to the rapid activation and dissemination of information across multiple platforms. The timeline of the event illustrates the urgency and coordination required in child abduction cases in Minnesota.

The incident began on a Wednesday morning when 3-week-old Dior Gooch was taken from the guardian's home in Columbia Heights.

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The initial report to the Columbia Heights Police Department set the emergency response in motion. Due to the infant's age and the circumstances—a non-custodial parent allegedly taking the child and threatening the guardian—the case met the strict criteria for an Amber Alert activation by the Minnesota BCA.

The statewide Amber Alert was officially issued in the afternoon, around 4:10 p.m. The alert instantly galvanized communities across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area and beyond.

The alert was broadcast through the Minnesota Crime Alert Network, the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system on cell phones, and the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on radio and television. This multi-platform approach ensured maximum public reach.

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Within hours of the public notification, the infant and Ashley Gooch were safely located in Minneapolis.

The Amber Alert was officially canceled after the child was found safe. Ashley Gooch was taken into custody without further incident.

The swift resolution underscores the effectiveness of the Amber Alert protocol in generating immediate public assistance, which is often the most vital component in the first critical hours of an abduction. The child's safety was paramount, and the community response played a direct role in the recovery.

How the Minnesota AMBER Alert System Works

The Columbia Heights incident serves as a powerful case study for the effectiveness of the Minnesota AMBER Alert system. This system is a coordinated effort involving multiple agencies and technologies, all focused on the immediate safe recovery of an endangered child.

The criteria for activating an AMBER Alert are stringent, ensuring the public is only alerted in the most serious child-abduction cases. The four main criteria require: confirmation of an abduction, the child being 17 years old or younger, the child being in immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death, and enough descriptive information about the child, abductor, or vehicle to make an alert helpful.

In Minnesota, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is the state agency responsible for evaluating the case and activating the alert. The BCA acts as the central hub, determining if the criteria are met and then launching the multi-pronged notification.

The alert is distributed through several key channels:

• Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA): This is the cell phone notification system that sends a text-like message to all compatible mobile devices within a targeted geographical area, creating the most immediate and widespread impact.
• Emergency Alert System (EAS): This system broadcasts the alert over television and radio stations.
• Minnesota Crime Alert Network: This is a dedicated network that sends alerts to law enforcement agencies, media outlets, and other key partners statewide.

Since its inception, the Minnesota AMBER Alert program has demonstrated remarkable efficiency, with a high success rate in the safe recovery of missing children. The system relies heavily on the public's willingness to act on the information provided, turning every citizen into an active participant in the search.

The safe return of Dior Gooch is a testament to the seamless cooperation between the Columbia Heights Police Department, the Anoka County authorities, the Minnesota BCA, and the vigilant residents of the Twin Cities metro area. This success story reinforces the importance of paying attention to these alerts and immediately contacting law enforcement with any credible information.

Following the resolution of the case, the focus shifts to the legal proceedings against Ashley Gooch and a review of the child's guardianship. The community remains grateful that a potentially tragic situation was averted through quick action and the power of public awareness.