Police Believe Missing 5-Year-Old Dulce Maria Alavez Lured Away From South Jersey Playground By Man
BRIDGETON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - It has now been two days since 5-year-old Dulce Maria Alavez vanished from a park in Cumberland County.
An Amber Alert has been issued and investigators say they believe she was abducted.
The girl disappeared from Bridgeton City Park on Monday afternoon, and her family is desperate to have her home.
"The only thing we're asking is for her to come back home safely," said Nayiber Alavez Perez, the girl's aunt. "We don't know who took her, who's with her, how she is doing and everything. The only thing we're trying to do it find her."
Dulce was last seen between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday afternoon at the park's playground. She was with her 3-year-old little brother, while her 19-year-old mother Noema Alavez Perez was in her car with another family member about 50 yards away.
The first 30 hours after the girl's disappearance, police conducted a full-scale search of the park and nearby waterways. At the same time detectives launched a criminal investigation which led them to conclude the girl was abducted.
"We don't have any solid suspects, we're investigating all the possibilities," said Bridgeton Police Chief Michael Gaimari.
Police were able to get enough information to issue an Amber Alert on Tuesday night by tracking down people who had been hanging around the basketball courts near the area where Dulce disappeared.
At least one person was able to provide details about a possible kidnapper.
Police are not sure if the suspect knows young Dulce or not. They say the girl's father is not in the United States and rest of the victim's family is cooperating.
"She means a lot to me, I would give anything for her to come back," said Nayiber Alavez Perez.
Police describe their suspect as light-skinned, 5-foot 6-inches to 5-foot 8-inches tall, with no facial hair and acne. He was last seen in orange sneakers, red pants and a black shirt. Investigators are also looking for a red van with sliding doors and tinted windows.