An Amber Alert has been issued for a missing 4-year-old girl who was taken with her mother’s car in Illinois. The car has been located, but the girl remains missing, according to police.
On Thursday, January 16, the Rock Island Police Department reported that the vehicle was stolen around 6:07 a.m. from the 1300 block of 14th 1/2 Street. The car was left running with the girl secured in a car seat in the back.
The girl was last seen shortly after the theft occurred, but despite extensive searches, she has not yet been found. “At this time, the location of the child is unknown,” the police stated.
Authorities are making every effort to find the girl, named Blessing. They are using various resources, including help from nearby agencies, door-to-door searches, and drones operated by the Rock Island Police Department, the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Department, and the Moline Police Department.
Blessing is described as a Black girl, approximately 3 feet tall and weighing around 50 pounds. An Amber Alert was issued at 6:42 a.m., and when the vehicle was discovered, the car seat was missing.
During a press conference, a police spokesperson mentioned that there had been several vehicle thefts in the area overnight. When asked whether the theft was aimed at kidnapping the child, the chief said that, while they aren’t excluding any possibilities, it likely happened by chance that Blessing was in the car at that time.
“We’re hoping that someone might have information about where she was taken from the car or where she might be now,” the chief said, expressing hope that she could be safe nearby.
Officials urged the public to refrain from blaming the child’s mother, highlighting that the incident unfolded quickly. Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to reach out to the police, and tips can be provided anonymously.
