“I Finally Got to Hug Her Again”: Mesa Police Officer Reunited with Daughter After 2.5-Year Search

Staff Reporter | iSkyNews.com (ISC News)

Published August 3rd, 2025

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Mesa, AZ (August 2025) — What began as a simple goodbye turned into a two-and-a-half-year nightmare. But on the day after her seventh birthday, Brooklyn Freeman was finally back in her father’s arms — a moment Mesa Police Officer Shawn Freeman had dreamed about every single day since she disappeared.

Back in August 2022, Brooklyn was just four years old — a bright, bubbly little girl who loved Barbies and Nerf gun battles. Shawn and Brooklyn’s mother, Erin Gerlach, had recently ended their relationship after over five years together. Despite the breakup, things seemed cordial. Erin said she was taking Brooklyn to California “to figure some stuff out.”

It wasn’t goodbye forever — or so Shawn thought.

"I told Erin I wanted to come visit Brooklyn," Shawn recalled. "And she just snapped — said if I came, she’d file a restraining order. There was no argument. It didn’t make any sense.”

That was the last time he saw his daughter.

A Father’s Worst Nightmare

Soon after, strange things started happening. Fake social media accounts appeared using Shawn’s name. Emails full of disturbing accusations were sent to his police chief and the sheriff’s office. Videos were posted online, painting him as a domestic abuser. Erin filed reports in multiple jurisdictions, claiming Shawn had hurt her.

Mesa Police opened an internal investigation. After months of looking into the allegations, they cleared Shawn completely. Still, the damage was done — and Brooklyn was gone.

Shawn was granted sole custody and full legal decision-making by early 2023, but Erin refused to return their daughter. Every lead that came in — every rumor, every tip — led to heartbreak.

“She made it look like she was one place, but she’d be somewhere else,” he said. “I couldn’t get anyone to help me. It was an emotional rollercoaster.”

Meanwhile, Erin kept attacking from the shadows. She allegedly impersonated Shawn in emails, even threatening local reporters after his involvement in a high-profile on-duty shooting. She filed protection orders that were repeatedly dismissed — but each one meant lost time, legal fees, and more stress.

Then came a breakthrough.

The Turning Point

In April 2023, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Child Abduction Unit officially listed Brooklyn in the National Crime Information Center as an abducted child.

Shawn’s fight continued for nearly another year. He worked closely with Detective Travis Staab of the Mesa Police Department, who dug deeper into Erin’s history and found patterns of harassment and deception. In May 2024, Detective Staab obtained a nationwide arrest warrant for Erin, charging her with Identity Theft and Custodial Interference.

The next several months were a flurry of search warrants, coordination with federal agencies, and careful tracking. Eventually, investigators discovered Erin was hiding in Murrieta, California.

On February 13, 2025 — the day after Brooklyn’s seventh birthday — officers from Mesa and Murrieta PD served a warrant at the home. Erin was arrested. Brooklyn was found safe.

A Bittersweet Reunion

“It took her a second to recognize me,” Shawn said, his voice cracking. “But then she did… and she let me hug her. And yeah, it was good.”

That hug marked the end of a long and painful chapter — but it also revealed the toll of the past two years.

Brooklyn had been hidden away — not allowed outside during the day, denied regular medical or dental care, and kept isolated from other children. She was only allowed out on Halloween, when a costume could help conceal her identity. Even the family pool was only used at night.

“She told me the other day she made four friends at the playground,” Shawn shared. “She was so happy. That crushed me — realizing just how long she went without that.”

Now, Brooklyn is healing. She’s in therapy, receiving proper care, and building a new life surrounded by love — with her dad, his fiancée, and her soon-to-be stepbrother.

As for Erin Gerlach, she was booked into jail in Riverside County, California, in February 2025. She bonded out and was released in March. Her legal case is ongoing.

Photo Credit: Mesa Police

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, support is available:

Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text START to 88788
Visit www.thehotline.org or acesdv.org

Stay with iSkyNews.com for continuing coverage on this and other developing stories.

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