An intense search of an apartment complex didn’t turn up signs of a missing 3-year-old Alabama girl who was abducted from a birthday party days ago, police in Birmingham said Wednesday, Oct. 16.
Live video from news outlets showed police blocking off a street and the sound of a law enforcement helicopter overhead. Officers in helmets and other tactical gear were seen entering an apartment building.
But the search, conducted less than 10 miles from where Kamille McKinney was last seen, didn’t turn up signs of the girl even though officers looked through every apartment and car in the area, said Sgt. Johnny Williams, a police spokesman.
“We are still searching for her,” he said.
Officers got a tip from someone who might have mistaken another child for the girl relatives call “Cupcake,” Williams said.
The girl was snatched away from a birthday party outside a housing project in Birmingham on Saturday night, police said.
At a news conference Wednesday evening, Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith urged whoever took the child to return her.
“I want to reach out to one individual. If you know where Kamille is, if you have her and you’re not sure what to do, I want to talk to you,” Smith said.
“Safe passage is the way to go. Please bring her to one of our fire stations, the police station, a hospital,” the chief said. “If you don’t know what to do or where to and you’re frightened, we’re here to help you.”
Speaking at an evening press conference, the chief announced that the reward in the case has increased to $20,000. The reward, offered by Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama, is for whoever provided information that assisted police in solving the crime. It is separate from a $5,000 reward offered by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, which is contingent on providing information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.
Crimestoppers has offered $20,000 cash reward for tips and information leading to the closure of this investigation. What we want is the safe return of Cupcake and her safe passage. Return Cupcake to a nearby Fire station or police Department. Do not place her in unnecessary harm
— Birmingham Police (@BhamPolice) October 16, 2019
An Amber Alert seeking information about the girl was initially sent only to Alabama, but was later expanded to neighboring states.
Anyone with information about where the child could be is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777 or call Birmingham police.
We are thoroughly searching for the whereabouts of The missing 3 year old. We have not yet discovered the location of cupcake despite recent social media post.
We are still in need of your continuous support if you find any information please call us immediately.— Birmingham Police (@BhamPolice) October 16, 2019
Two People in Custody
A man and a woman described as persons of interest were arrested and charged with crimes that police said were unrelated to the girl’s disappearance.
Patrick Devone Stallworth, 39, of Birmingham was charged with four counts of possession of child pornography and three counts of possession with child pornography with intent to distribute. Police Chief Patrick Smith said in a statement Tuesday night that pornography was found on Stallworth’s cellphone. He’s being held on a $500,000 bond. Derrick Irisha Brown, 29, also of Birmingham, is being held on a probation revocation with no bond for an unrelated kidnapping, Smith said.
But police said they don’t know where the child might be.
Father: Return My Daughter
Kamille’s father is begging for the return of his daughter.
“Drop her off anywhere and let her out. Somebody will see her. Everybody knows what’s going on,” Dominic McKinney told WBMA. “That will be the end of that. We just want the baby back.”
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in Kamille’s kidnapping, and a private individual put up another $1,000.
Kamille is 3 feet tall, weighs 60 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair, according to the Amber Alert. She was last seen wearing a pink T-shirt with a Minnie Mouse leopard print design.
The CNN Wire contributed to this report.
