Tucson police investigate disappearance of girl, 6, from family home

POLICE OFFICERS investigating the possible abduction of a 6-year-old girl from her family’s home in Tucson, Arizona have discovered “suspicious circumstances” at a possible entry point to the house.

Six-year-old Isabel Mercedes Celis was last seen by her family in her bedroom at 11pm on Friday. Her parents contacted the authorities the following morning when they could not find her.

US marshals, the FBI, helicopters and dog units are involved in the investigation; police have been focusing on whether she may have wandered off by herself or if she was taken from the house.

The Associated Press reports that although police would not comment on where they had discovered the “suspicious circumstances”, a family friend said that the window screen to the child’s bedroom had been knocked down.

Police say that the family has been cooperating fully with the investigation. The child lived at the house with both of her parents and her two brothers.

Tucson Police Chief Roberto Villaseno told a press conference today that officers are exploring over 100 leads in their investigation. KVOA reports that Villaseno also said that the Celis family has been asked to leave the house at this point in the investigation as the property is being treated as a crime scene.

The FBI flew two expert search dogs from its Virginia base to Tucson and the animals have been working at the residence since midnight last night.

Around 400 people attended a candlelit vigil near the family’s home.

Massive search underway for six-year-old Isabel amid kidnapping fears >