Police Confirm Nalani Johnson Found Dead In Blairsville
BLAIRSVILLE, Pa. (KDKA) -- The missing Penn Hills toddler has been found dead.
Authorities found the body of 2-year-old Nalani Johnson on Tuesday at Pine Ridge Park in Indiana County, Indiana County District Attorney Patrick Dougherty confirmed in a press conference.
WATCH: KDKA's Kym Gable tracks the series of events leading up to Nalani's death
The Indiana County Coroner was on the scene after law enforcement set up crime scene tape on the scene.
WATCH: Authorities address the press --
Law enforcement taped off a house in the area of the park and was seen removing items from the residence.
Dougherty said an autopsy will be performed Wednesday, but could not say the manner or the cause of Johnson's death.
"This is a cooperative effort between Allegheny County and Indiana County to try and get the best outcome and determine what happened to this child," Dougherty said.
Allegheny County Police said the father of the toddler and the woman charged with kidnapping her were in a romantic relationship.
Police, on Monday, filed kidnapping and other related charges against Sharena Nancy.
"We believe she is involved," Dougherty said at the press conference. "To what extent, that is still to be determined."
According to investigators, after taking off with Nalani, Nancy's 2017 black Toyota Yaris with Lyft and Uber stickers on the front passenger-side windshield drove east on Route 22 on Saturday, all the way to the Blairsville, Indiana County, area. She was stopped around 7:30 p.m. along Rodi Road by a Penn Hills Police officer.
The Pine Ridge Park was a stopping point for Nancy, cell phone tracking showed, before returning to the Pittsburgh area.
Allegheny County Police Superintendent Coleman McDonough said Nalani and her father, Paul Johnson, were not in Sharena Nancy's vehicle for an arbitrary Uber or Lyft ride.
"Sharena Nancy and Paul Johnson became acquainted intermittently over the last few months, so they were known to each other," McDonough said. "They were friends; they were in the beginnings of an intermittent romantic relationship."
Law enforcement officials addressed the media on Tuesday night, saying there isn't much they can share about Nalani Johnson's death as the investigation is ongoing.
WATCH: KDKA's Ross Guidotti is at Pine Ridge Park.
McDonough sent out a statement, saying in part:
"On behalf of the men and women of the Allegheny County Police Department, I extend my deepest sympathies to the family of Nalani Johnson. We are grateful to you for your cooperation and support during the investigation."
The statement also said they would "be remiss" if they didn't thank the people who submitted tips and helped with the search.
They continue to ask business owners and citizens along Route 22 to contact the Allegheny County Police Department at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.
Allegheny County District Attorney also issued a statement:
"District Attorney Zappala wishes to acknowledge the exhaustive work of the Allegheny County Police Department, plus the assistance of the Pennsylvania State Police and FBI, as well as the assistance of Westmoreland and Indiana counties over the past four days. DA Zappala spoke with Indiana County DA Dougherty earlier tonight and our offices will be working together to determine the best way to proceed in order to achieve justice for Nalani Johnson and her family."
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Stay with KDKA for more on this developing story.
