BOSTON -- A Lynn, Mass., woman is facing kidnapping charges after police found her 5-year-old daughter in a zippered suitcase at an airport hotel Monday night following a statewide Amber Alert.

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that Cathy Trotta was led sobbing into a police car just before 9 p.m. Monday, telling officers, "I wanted to protect her." She was referring to her biological daughter, Grace, who authorities said Cathy Trotta kidnapped from a foster home in Marlborough, Mass., Monday afternoon. The child was found unharmed inside a large suitcase. Authorities said Trotta had a ticket for a flight to Miami and from there to the Bahamas.

"They actually had a flight booked for American Airlines. They showed up a bit too late for the flight," State Police Lt. Eric Anderson said.

The saga began about 2:45 p.m. Monday in Marlborough when two children were kidnapped from a foster home on Pleasant Street. Police said foster mother Rebecca Borey was assaulted, and Grace Trotta and Borey's son, Christian, 3, were allegedly abducted by Cathy Trotta and her landlord-boyfriend, identified as Dennis Piper, 43.

"At that time, [the foster mother] was brought into the house. She was tied up in the house and the children were taken from the house," police said.

Authorities issued a statewide Amber Alert.

After searching Trotta's home in Lynn, police found Christian Borey safe in Malden, Mass., and shortly afterward a hotel doorman at the Embassy Suites airport hotel recognized Kathy Trotta from a mug shot he'd seen on television. Authorities found mother and daughter in a hotel room, but Piper had left and is still at large.

State Department of Social Services officials said Cathy Trotta has a history with DSS.

"Her children were removed. As to neglect, she's had a series of problems throughout the year, lots of problems. Substance abuse and various other things," DSS spokeswoman Denise Monteiro said. She said the agency has taken away three children from Trotta because of neglect. The oldest, a 10-year-old boy, has been in DSS care most of his life, she said. Another daughter, who is 6, lives at the Marlborough home but wasn't there at the time of the incident Monday.