GAINESVILLE -- The Mexican national accused of killing, kidnapping and molesting a 4-year-old girl last weekend made his first court appearance Friday.

During Friday's brief court appearance, Hall County Chief Magistrate Judge Margaret Gregory read Zamites the charges against Cornelia Rivera Zamites, 24, in connection withthe death of Esmerelda Nava. The magistrate judge set a preliminary hearing for July 29

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Zamites was taken into custody Thursday after an intense manhunt that also reportedly centered on the area where the girl's body was found.

Investigators had feared that the man, who is from Vera Cruz, Mexico, might try to return to his country. Law enforcement authorities placed all states on alert between Georgia and that country as they searched for him.

Authorities said a tip that Zamites was in the area led sheriff's officers and Georgia State Patrol troopers to secure the perimeter. A 21-year-old trooper in training spotted the suspect in a wooded area, and he immediately surrendered.

Authorities had obtained murder, kidnapping and child molestation warrants for Zamites' arrest.

The victim, Esmerelda Nava, disappeared sometime Saturday and her body was found Sunday morning in the woods behind a house.

The girl and her parents had gone to visit the house where the suspect was living.

wsbtv.com Staff Writer Alfred Charles contributed to this report