The Federal Bureau of Investigation has joined the investigation and search for a 3-year-old girl who went missing Saturday in Missouri. According to a news report from local television station KFVS-12, Breann Rodriguez disappeared from her yard in Senath in Dunklin County Saturday afternoon.
Authorities told the media that the little girl's father reported her missing and told them she had been riding her bike in front of the family home. Authorities stated that both Breann and the pink bicycle she was riding were missing.
An AMBER Alert has not been issued in the case and the FBI has joined the investigation. According to KFVS-12, as of Sunday morning, the FBI had requested local authorities not discuss the case any further with the media.
Currently, family and friends of the little girl have been searching the area for any sign of her or her bicycle. Authorities are urging the public to contact the Senath Police Department of the Dunklin County Sheriff's Department with any tips or information about the little girl's disappearance or whereabouts. They described Breann as Hispanic, 34 inches tall and weighing about 30 pounds. She has black hair and was last seen wearing a pink shirt and shorts, with pigtails in her hair and riding a pink bike with training wheels.
According to the official Department of Justice Amber Alert website, there are specific criteria for issuing an AMBER Alert. The first requirement is for law enforcement officials to determine that an abduction of the child in question has indeed taken place; in this particular case with Breann Rodriguez, authorities apparently do not yet have enough information to make that determination, although they are treating it like an abduction at this time.
Secondly, an AMBER alert issuance requires that the child in question be in immediate danger of death or serious injury. A description of the child's captor and/or the captor's vehicle is necessary. An AMBER Alert is only valid for a child who is age 17 or under.
While on the surface one would wonder why the FBI has not issued an alert for Breann Rodriguez given the requirements (which can vary slightly from state to state) for issuance, it is understandable. In this case, with the information that has been made available to the public, it would be difficult for law enforcement to decide a kidnapping has taken place and offer a description of any kidnapper.
Hopefully Breann will be found safe and sound very quickly and reunited with her family.




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