Law enforcement officials are working overtime to try and locate a one-year-old girl who was declared missing following the death of her mother in what police are saying was a “domestic homicide.
” Because of the circumstances regarding the toddler’s disappearance, Ansonia Police believe young Venessa Morales to be “endangered.”
The girl was not at home when her mother was discovered in their Ansonia, Connecticut home on Monday night. The house has since become an active suspicious death investigation but the police have still not managed to find the girl.
According to CT Post, Chief Andy Cota III declared that Venessa’s mother “did not die of natural causes.”
The outlet added that the girl’s father is with his parents in New Haven and that he was cooperating with the police.
Lieutenant Patrick Lynch said that although they do not have any leads as yet as to Venessa’s whereabouts, they are exhausting all means in order to track her down.
In a press conference held on Tuesday, Lynch said, ” This is a two-part investigation — the first part is a homicide investigation, the second is a missing child investigation.
“Our main focus at the moment is finding Venessa Morales and making sure she’s safe.”
State troopers raised a Silver Alert as soon as the police realized that the girl was missing.
“We are approaching the point where we may go to an Amber Alert. It depends on how the leads work out,” Lynch told WFSB.
“If the leads are all investigated and nothing comes out of it, then we probably are in Amber Alert territory.”
Family members initially asked the police to visit Venessa’s home for a welfare check after they became concerned.
Police arrive a little before 8 pm and discovered enough cause to prompt a forced entry.
The results of an autopsy to reveal the cause and nature of death are now pending.
New Haven is about 10 miles from Ansonia.
Should anyone have any information related to Venessa, police urge them to call 203-735-1885.
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