HOUSTON -- Child Protective Services said there’s no evidence that a mother of five children who were abducted by their caregiver last week ever hurt her kids.

Rhonda Tavey had taken in Erica Alphonse and her children in the wake of Hurricane Katrina three years ago. Last week the Houston woman was arrested and charged with kidnapping after she took off with the children a month ago.

In an interview with 11 News before she was arrested, Tavey claimed she took the kids because, “God led” her to do it.

The CPS probe was launched after Tavey accused the kids’ mother, along with her boyfriend were abusive and used drugs. Allegations that the agency said hold no truth.

Alphonse admitted that she would leave the children with Tavey for weeks or months at a time while she traveled back to New Orleans to get her life back together.

WFAA

Rhonda Tavey shown with three of the children she's accused of kidnapping.

It was when Alphonse said she told Tavey that she was ready to return to New Orleans with her kids that Tavey became combative and took off with the children.

Tavey was arrested last week and the children were allowed to go with Alphonse, as long as she agreed not to leave Houston until the CPS investigation was complete.

Now that the investigation is over, CPS said Alphonse is free to return to New Orleans with the kids. Agency spokeswoman Estella Olguin said the “case is closed.”

Alphonse’s attorney Shelly Ross said the mother feels “vindicated” by the CPS decision.

“My client has been subjected to ridiculous accusations and she feels hurt,” said Ross.

Tavey, meanwhile, plans to push forward with her efforts to be declared the kids’ legal guardian.