The nationwide search for a 15-month-old girl has ended after the girl was left in her grandmother’s care, but the girl’s alleged kidnapper —her father — remains at large.

Aniston Coleman, who has been missing since she was abducted from outside the Mancos High School graduation on May 21, has been located at her grandmother’s house in Louisiana, according to Montezuma County Sheriff’s Det. Steve Harmon.

"We found out on Friday that Aniston has been left with her grandmother in New Orleans," Harmon said Monday.

Harmon said that Aniston’s father, John Coleman, 33, of New Orleans, La., dropped the girl off at his mother’s house and has since fled the area.

Investigators are continuing to search for Coleman and are attempting to get some funds to help pay for Aniston’s care, Harmon said.

"Right now we are working on getting some welfare checks down to the baby," Harmon said.

Montezuma County Sheriff’s Det. Hugh Richards said that Aniston will remain in Louisiana with her grandmother until a custody arrangement is worked out.

"The important thing is that the baby is safe," Richards said.

Richards said that Coleman has filed for custody of the girl and a Louisiana court-order grants him rights to the baby. However, a Colorado court-order has also granted Davis temporary custody rights. These conflicting court-orders will have to be worked out before a permanent custody arrangement is made.

Jennifer Davis, the girl’s mother, could not be reached for comment Monday.

According to a Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office report, Coleman allegedly attacked his ex-girlfriend, Jennifer Davis, while Davis was leaving the Mancos Performance Center during graduation ceremonies.

Davis told police that she was walking down the steps leading from the performance center with her daughter, Aniston Coleman, when she was struck in the middle of the back and knocked to the ground.

Davis said when she got up, she saw Coleman running with Aniston toward an alley on the north side of the building.

According to the report, Davis had fled from Louisiana with Aniston about a week prior to the Mancos graduation in order to escape abuse she was allegedly receiving from Coleman.

Following the abduction, the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana police began coordinating a search for the missing pair.

Prior to Aniston’s return on Friday, Davis’ mother Jodie Grimes, said that she was attempting to get the story reported on the television show America’s Most Wanted.

Cortez attorney George Buck said that in cases such as this, the child’s best interests are considered, adding that a number of extenuating circumstances and each state’s laws are considered before deciding custody.