Authorities in Connecticut are searching a wooded area on Friday as a 1-year-old girl whose mother was found dead on Monday remains missing.
WFSB reports that police have been searching Kiducation donation bins in Derby and Ansonia as part of the investigation into the disappearance of 1-year-old Vanessa Morales, whose mother Christine Holloway was found murdered in their Ansonia home on Monday.
Police reported to the home after family members requested a welfare check. The toddler girl was nowhere to be found when police discovered Holloway’s body. A medical examiner has since determined that the 43-year-old woman died of blunt force trauma. Police have not made any arrests or named a person of interest in the homicide, though Morales’ father, who does not live at the Ansonia home, was reportedly taken into custody Thursday on unrelated charges.
As WFSB reports, investigators first began the search of the donation bins on Thursday, reportedly in response to a tip. On Friday, police searched a wooded area in Dearby near a donation bin that was part of the earlier search.
Authorities have not disclosed what evidence they are seeking, or whether the search is related to the toddler’s disappearance or her mother’s homicide investigation.
“We’re not going to go into the items that we have found so far, other than to say the evidence is being recovered and we’re hoping to analyze and it will lead to a successful conclusion in this case,” Ansonia Lt. Patrick Lynch reportedly said on Friday, according to WFSB.
Family members last saw Morales one week ago. As CrimeOnline previously reported, Ansonia Police Lt. Patrick Lynch said in a news conference on Thursday that police believe Morales may be with “someone safe,” and urged that person to come forward. Authorities have not commented on any relationship between this person and the girl or her mother.
CrimeOnline will provide further updates when more information is available.
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