Witnesses have reported seeing a young girl matching the description of the missing Alberta 5-year-old at the center of an Amber Alert, officials say.
An Amber Alert was issued for Taliyah Leigh Marsman Tuesday morning after her mother, Sara Baillie, was found dead inside their home Monday night. Police believe Baillie's manner of death was a homicide and they are searching for the missing child. Police have not yet released the cause of death. On Wednesday, officials held a press conference to discuss the ongoing investigation.
"Witnesses in the community noted that on Monday at about 1130 a.m. a girl matching Taliyah's description was seen with a stocky black male," Inspector Don Coleman of the Calgary Police Service said in the press conferred. The girl was wearing "red or pink boots with polka dots and [was carrying] a reddish colored suitcase," Coleman added.
CCTV footage from Sunday show the mother and her daughter at a local Dairy Queen. In the footage, Baillie waves to a man and his family as they enjoy their ice cream. Police are asking the family to come forward to help with the investigation.
The footage is believed to be the last time Baillie and her daughter were seen together.
As the second day into Taliyah's search comes to a end, Coleman says authorities are staying positive.
"We're hopeful that she's safe," Coleman says. "We're going to remain hopeful that she's safe and she's just with somebody that’s trying to figure out what to do."
Coleman adds that if the girl spotted by eye witnesses is Taliyah the idea that she is carrying a suitcase is "a promising indication that whoever she is with has some intentions to care for her in some degree."
• Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.
On Monday night, police were called to the Calgary home of Taliyah and Baillie after Baillie did not show up to work and family members could not locate her in the home. A further search by police revealed Baillie's body inside the home. Taliyah was official reported missing the following morning.
On Tuesday afternoon, Taliyah's family held a press conference to send a message to their loved one and her alleged abductor.
Baillie's aunt, Mary-Lynne Hamilton, said through tears, "Taliyah, honey, if you are watching this, we love you. Stay strong, honey."
Baillie's uncle, Scott Hamilton, pleaded, "Please return her. Drop her off at an RCMP station, Calgary Police Service station, or grocery store, gas station, wherever you want. Contact the family, we'll come and pick her up. There will be no questions asked."
Hamilton added, "We love her, we miss her, and we want her back."
Authorities have spoken with Taliyah's father, Colin Marsman, whom they say is "estranged" from her mother, Coleman said.
Marsman issued a statement to Canadian news outlets, saying, "With all my heart, I love her sooo much; she is my light! Please allow her to come home to her family."
The statement added, "I just want my baby girl back." "[Marsman] is still cooperating – we haven’t labeled anybody with specific roles in this [yet]," Coleman said at the Wednesday press conference.
Baillie worked a full-time job and was raising her daughter with the support of her extended family, her family said.
"Taliyah was Sara's world," Scott Hamilton said tearfully, adding Taliyah had recently graduated from kindergarten and had learned how to ride a bike.
Taliyah is mixed race, with a slim build, brown curly hair and blue eyes. The last time she was seen was 11:30am on Sunday.
"Whoever [is with Taliyah] needs to be aware that anytime children are harmed that changes the game and takes things to a whole new level," Coleman warned. "Police, the community, even other people in jail don’t take kindly to [those who harm children.]
Coleman says police have narrowed their investigation but have not named a suspect.
Anyone with information is asked to call 403-532-6237.
An Amber Alert was issued for Taliyah Leigh Marsman Tuesday morning after her mother, Sara Baillie, was found dead inside their home Monday night. Police believe Baillie's manner of death was a homicide and they are searching for the missing child. Police have not yet released the cause of death. On Wednesday, officials held a press conference to discuss the ongoing investigation.
"Witnesses in the community noted that on Monday at about 1130 a.m. a girl matching Taliyah's description was seen with a stocky black male," Inspector Don Coleman of the Calgary Police Service said in the press conferred. The girl was wearing "red or pink boots with polka dots and [was carrying] a reddish colored suitcase," Coleman added.
CCTV footage from Sunday show the mother and her daughter at a local Dairy Queen. In the footage, Baillie waves to a man and his family as they enjoy their ice cream. Police are asking the family to come forward to help with the investigation.
The footage is believed to be the last time Baillie and her daughter were seen together.
As the second day into Taliyah's search comes to a end, Coleman says authorities are staying positive.
"We're hopeful that she's safe," Coleman says. "We're going to remain hopeful that she's safe and she's just with somebody that’s trying to figure out what to do."
Coleman adds that if the girl spotted by eye witnesses is Taliyah the idea that she is carrying a suitcase is "a promising indication that whoever she is with has some intentions to care for her in some degree."
• Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.
On Monday night, police were called to the Calgary home of Taliyah and Baillie after Baillie did not show up to work and family members could not locate her in the home. A further search by police revealed Baillie's body inside the home. Taliyah was official reported missing the following morning.
On Tuesday afternoon, Taliyah's family held a press conference to send a message to their loved one and her alleged abductor.
Baillie's aunt, Mary-Lynne Hamilton, said through tears, "Taliyah, honey, if you are watching this, we love you. Stay strong, honey."
Baillie's uncle, Scott Hamilton, pleaded, "Please return her. Drop her off at an RCMP station, Calgary Police Service station, or grocery store, gas station, wherever you want. Contact the family, we'll come and pick her up. There will be no questions asked."
Hamilton added, "We love her, we miss her, and we want her back."
Authorities have spoken with Taliyah's father, Colin Marsman, whom they say is "estranged" from her mother, Coleman said.
Marsman issued a statement to Canadian news outlets, saying, "With all my heart, I love her sooo much; she is my light! Please allow her to come home to her family."
The statement added, "I just want my baby girl back." "[Marsman] is still cooperating – we haven’t labeled anybody with specific roles in this [yet]," Coleman said at the Wednesday press conference.
Baillie worked a full-time job and was raising her daughter with the support of her extended family, her family said.
"Taliyah was Sara's world," Scott Hamilton said tearfully, adding Taliyah had recently graduated from kindergarten and had learned how to ride a bike.
Taliyah is mixed race, with a slim build, brown curly hair and blue eyes. The last time she was seen was 11:30am on Sunday.
"Whoever [is with Taliyah] needs to be aware that anytime children are harmed that changes the game and takes things to a whole new level," Coleman warned. "Police, the community, even other people in jail don’t take kindly to [those who harm children.]
Coleman says police have narrowed their investigation but have not named a suspect.
Anyone with information is asked to call 403-532-6237.
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