The father of a missing 1-year-old Connecticut girl whose mother was found murdered is reportedly in police custody.
NBC Connecticut reports that the father of Vanessa Morales is in custody in New Haven on charges unrelated to his daughter’s disappearance or her mother’s apparent murder.
The unidentified man was reportedly in a relationship with 43-year-old Christine Holloway, who was found dead of blunt force trauma in her Ansonia home on Monday. Police have said the father has been cooperative with the investigation, and did not live at the home with Vanessa and her mother, though he sometimes stayed there. There is no indication at this time that Vanessa’s father is believed to be involved in Holloway’s murder or his daughter’s disappearance.
Ansonia Police Lt. Patrick Lynch reportedly said at a news conference on Thursday that Vanessa police believe the toddler girl is with someone who is not a danger to her, but that this person needs to come forward.
“We believe that she is with someone safe, and we want to make it a priority that they understand whatever circumstances that they have received Vanessa, just bring her back to us so we know she’s safe,” Lynch said, according to NBC Connecticut.
Vanessa’s aunt, identified only as Anna, reportedly made a plea for the girl’s return.
“We the family would like to ask for anyone in our communities and beyond us to help bring Vanessa home safely. Anyone with any information on her whereabouts, we beg of you, please contact Ansonia Police Department or call the FBI tip line 203-503-5555. We desperately need anyone that may be with baby Vanessa to keep her safe, unharmed and get her back to us quickly.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, investigators were in Hamden, Connecticut, on Thursday, reportedly to follow up on a tip involving a donation bin. Local police were later joined by the State Police Major Crimes Unit. It is unclear at this time if the search yielded anything related to the missing persons of the homicide investigation.
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