FBI joins police in search for missing 10-year-old girl in West Philadelphia

Federal agents have joined Philadelphia police in looking for a West Philadelphia girl, age 10, who was reported missing more than eight days ago, according to 6abc Action News and CBS Philadelphia.

On Tuesday, officers and FBI agents collected evidence along the 500 block of North Simpson Street for much of the day, 6abc reported. Sources told the station that investigators are building a timeline of where the child was last known to be.

The station also reported that investigators are sorting out accounts that do not agree with each other, and that the foster home where the girl had been staying remains their focus. No arrests or charges have been reported.

According to 6abc, authorities have expressed concern for her safety. The girl stands 4 feet, 11 inches, wears eyeglasses and had on a blue school uniform when she was last seen.

Relatives said they are praying that she comes home unharmed, 6abc reported. Her aunt, Nyfisha Allford, said the length of the disappearance is difficult to accept. "For her to be missing this many days, it's just crazy," Allford told the station.

Family members told 6abc they had not seen the child for roughly two years, a period in which she was in the care of the city's Department of Human Services. They said they had once tried to gain custody of her.

Allford told the station that the agency sent people to look over her home, but that she was not contacted again afterward. "We just thought she was safe; clearly, she isn't," she said, according to 6abc.

An uncle told 6abc he was also worried about a family member he said is struggling with a mental health problem.

Neither outlet included a response from the Department of Human Services to the family's account.

CBS Philadelphia reported that the effort to find the girl is growing and that the FBI is now involved.

Police are asking anyone who knows where she might be to reach out to them.

Compiled by True News from reporting by 6abc Action News and CBS Philadelphia. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/762