Authorities have released more information about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a missing 1-year-old girl in Connecticut.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, police responding to a welfare check request found the body a woman at a home in Ansonia Monday night, but 1-year-old Venessa Morales, who also lives there, was no where to be seen. The earliest reports about the disappearance did not specify the relationship between the dead woman and the missing child.

According to CBS New York, Ansonia police have confirmed that the deceased woman is Venessa’s mother, and they are investigating her death as a homicide. It is not known how the mother died, or how long she was dead before she was found.

The Ansonia Police Department has shared a photo of the missing girl, and said in a Facebook post that she is believed to be in danger. Because authorities do not have any persons of interest in her disappearance or a vehicle description, they have not issued an AMBER Alert.

“This is a two part investigation. First is a homicide investigation, the second is a missing child investigation,” Ansonia Police Chief Andrew Cota told reporters, according to WFSB.

“We have enlarged all of our resources to investigate this case. Our main focus at the moment is finding Venessa Morales and making sure she is safe.”

As CBS New York reports, Venessa’s father is cooperating with the investigation. He reportedly told police that he was in a relationship with the girl’s mother, and sometimes stayed at the home but did not live there. He is living with his parents in New Haven.

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Anyone with information about Venessa’s whereabouts is urged to call Ansonia Police at 203-735-1885.

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

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