Alabama authorities mistakenly confirmed that Kamille McKinney, the 3-year-old girl who was abducted during a birthday party on Saturday, was found alive on Tuesday following a massive search.

Citing relatives and Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway, WIAT reported at about 1 p.m. that McKinney was found alive at a Birmingham apartment complex and was being assessed by medical personnel. Minutes later, the station updated their report to reflect that the missing toddler had not been found despite officials’ contradictory confirmation.

Birmingham Police Department Seargent Johnny Williams Jr. explained that officers misidentified a girl that was the same size as the missing child.

How do you protect your children from predators? Join Nancy Grace and a team of world-class experts for the online course ‘Justice Nation: Crime Stops Here’.

Earlier Wednesday, police cordoned off an area in the 2700 block of Jefferson amid their ongoing search for McKinney, who vanished Saturday night during a birthday party in Birmingham. Children who were also at the party reportedly said that a man who was handing out candy put the barefoot toddler in a Toyota Sequoia and drove off.

On Sunday evening, police detained two persons of interest, Patrick Stallworth, 39, and his girlfriend, Derick Brown, 29, at the Woodside Condominiums in Center Point. A vehicle sought in the ongoing investigation was reportedly also found at the residence.

Stallworth remains in custody on an unrelated child pornography charge. Authorities are in the process of keeping Brown detained on an unrelated 2018 abduction case involving her three children.

McKinney is described as being approximately 3 feet tall, weighing 60 pounds, and having brown eyes and black hair. She was last seen wearing a pink and leopard-print Minnie Mouse shirt with leopard-print shorts. She was also wearing blue, white, and yellow hair bows.

Anyone with information regarding Kamille McKinney’s whereabouts should call the Birmingham Police Department tipline at 205-297-8413 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

This is a developing story. Check with CrimeOnline for updates as they become available.

For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to a related episode:

Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most – your children.

[Featured image: Kamille McKinney/Alabama Law Enforcement]