3-Year-Old Girl Abducted from Her Home, Police Say ‘She’s in Danger’ as They Release Photo of Suspect

Authorities in Arizona asked for the public’s help in locating a missing 3-year-old girl believed to have been abducted from her home.

Kehlani Rogers was last seen at her residence near 118th Avenue and Thomas Road in Avondale at about 11:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20, according to the Avondale Police Department (APD). An AMBER Alert was issued after her disappearance. (She was later found on Sunday, Feb. 22.)

Rogers is described as approximately 3 feet 5 inches tall with a thin build, brown braided hair, and brown eyes. Investigators said she was believed to be with 23-year-old Marina Noriega. The two were reportedly seen together in Maricopa on Saturday.

In an update, police said detectives followed up on multiple community tips that helped identify Noriega as a suspect. Surveillance footage from a local business showed Noriega in Maricopa with Rogers.

Images released by authorities showed Rogers wearing purple pajamas with multicolored smiley faces. Noriega was described as a white woman of short stature with a thin build and brown hair. She was seen wearing black and white tank tops with pink fuzzy pants.

Police confirmed that Noriega is not related to Rogers.

A family member told local media that Rogers’ father had allowed Noriega to stay at his home. Officials said there was no prior indication that Rogers would be taken.

“The fact that there was no conversation or plan is what led investigators to believe the child could be in danger,” an APD spokesperson said.

Authorities also stated that nearby agencies and hospitals were notified following the AMBER Alert, but no immediate leads were found at that time.

Police urged anyone with information about the incident to contact the Avondale Police Department or Silent Witness.