Crime & Safety
K9s Search Derby In Connection To Missing 1-Year-Old Case: Report
State police are searching a wooded area in connection with the disappearance of 1-year-old Vanessa Morales.
DERBY, CT — State police are in the process of searching the woods off of Derby Avenue in Derby in connection with the disappearance of 1-year-old Vanessa Morales from Ansonia. Vanessa’s mother Christine Holloway was found dead in their Myrtle Avenue residence Monday.
Multiple news outlets report that State police are using K9 units to search the area. Yesterday police searched the Kiducation property in Hamden after an employee found a concerning item in a donation bin.
BREAKING: Several @CT_STATE_POLICE K-9s are now searching for evidence related to missing one year-old Vanessa Morales in the woods above Saint Michael’s Church in #Derby, right next to a parking lot, where investigators searched kids clothing donation bins yesterday. @FOX61News pic.twitter.com/oOrc9vZvjh
— Tony Terzi (@T2Fox61) December 6, 2019
JUST IN: State police and K9s are searching the woods on Derby Ave in Derby in connection to the abduction of 1-year-old Vanessa Morales. @News12CT pic.twitter.com/mSHOz5DHhk
— Marissa Alter (@MarissaAlter) December 6, 2019
An Amber Alert was issued for Vanessa Wednesday after a Silver Alert on Tuesday.
Find out what's happening in Shelton-Derbyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Related: CT Amber Alert: Police ID Mother Of Missing 1-Year-Old
Police are working under the assumption that Vanessa is alive and with someone, said Ansonia Police Lt. Patrick Lynch at a Thursday evening press conference.
Find out what's happening in Shelton-Derbyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"We just want to know where she is and that she is safe and well," Lynch said.
Police went to Holloway's home Monday night for a welfare check and found her dead. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide that was caused by blunt force trauma.
A prayer vigil for Vanessa is scheduled for Saturday Dec. 7 at Veterans Park.
A prayer vigil for Vanessa Morales has been scheduled for Saturday evening in Ansonia, according to this flyer. pic.twitter.com/JTB9T7e60M
— The Valley Indy (@ValleyIndy) December 6, 2019
Jose Morales, 43, of New Haven, the father of missing #Ansonia one year-old #VanessaMorales, has been in the custody of @NewHavenPolice since Wednesday, when they found two stun guns in his possession. Being a convicted felon, he is not permitted to own weapons. @FOX61News pic.twitter.com/iGvcTLIIlT
— Tony Terzi (@T2Fox61) December 6, 2019
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