10-04-2011, 02:31 PM
CHARLESTON, W.Va.-- Special agents with the FBI don't think 3-year-old Aliayah Lunsford walked away from her Weston home on Sept. 24.
Special Agent Jeff Killeen, of the FBI's Pittsburgh office, said authorities instead are now treating the case as an abduction, homicide or a concealment.
"Those are the three crimes we're looking at," he said.
Killeen also said authorities are looking at persons of interest in the case. However, a specific suspect has not yet been identified, he said.
Killeen would not comment on whether any members of the Lunsford family are considered persons of interest.
Authorities and volunteers have been searching for the toddler since she was reported missing about 11:30 a.m. that Saturday morning by her mother, Lena Lunsford.
Hundreds of volunteers along with authorities searched the West Fork River and its banks for days looking for the little girl.
The hillsides near the Lunsford home in the neighborhood known as Bendale also were searched, Killeen said.
"There is no evidence in the wooded areas to show that she (Aliayah Lunsford) is out there," he said.
Killeen said a 3-year-old could have made it only a short distance from her home on her own.
Officials have suspended the search of the river and the surrounding hills and streams, Killeen said. Volunteers are no longer needed, and the temporary search headquarters at the Weston Armory has been disbanded, he said.
"All of the authorities involved in the search have gone back to their offices to continue work from there," he said.
http://www.dailymail.com/News/2011100326...uild=cache
Special Agent Jeff Killeen, of the FBI's Pittsburgh office, said authorities instead are now treating the case as an abduction, homicide or a concealment.
"Those are the three crimes we're looking at," he said.
Killeen also said authorities are looking at persons of interest in the case. However, a specific suspect has not yet been identified, he said.
Killeen would not comment on whether any members of the Lunsford family are considered persons of interest.
Authorities and volunteers have been searching for the toddler since she was reported missing about 11:30 a.m. that Saturday morning by her mother, Lena Lunsford.
Hundreds of volunteers along with authorities searched the West Fork River and its banks for days looking for the little girl.
The hillsides near the Lunsford home in the neighborhood known as Bendale also were searched, Killeen said.
"There is no evidence in the wooded areas to show that she (Aliayah Lunsford) is out there," he said.
Killeen said a 3-year-old could have made it only a short distance from her home on her own.
Officials have suspended the search of the river and the surrounding hills and streams, Killeen said. Volunteers are no longer needed, and the temporary search headquarters at the Weston Armory has been disbanded, he said.
"All of the authorities involved in the search have gone back to their offices to continue work from there," he said.
http://www.dailymail.com/News/2011100326...uild=cache