AMBER ALERT AZ - Kehlani Rogers, 3, seen wearing pajamas at home, in danger, with a woman named Merena, not a relative, Avondale, 20 Feb 2026

[GuyfromCanada]

AMBER ALERT MISSING CHILD

On Friday, February 20, 2026, at approximately 11:30 PM, Kehlani Rogers, a 3-year-old African American female, was last seen at her residence near 118th Avenue and Thomas Road in Avondale.

Kehlani is described as 3’5” tall, thin build, brown braided hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing pink pajamas. She is believed to be with a woman known only as “Merena”, described as a 30-year-old White female, short stature, thin build, brown hair in a ponytail, hazel eyes last seen wearing a white top and purple or pink pants.

Surrounding agencies and local hospitals have been notified with negative results. We are now asking for the media’s assistance to ask the public if anyone has information regarding Kehlani and “Merena’s” whereabouts can be shared with the Avondale Police Department at 623-333-7000 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS, if they wish to remain anonymous.

https://www.facebook.com/AvondalePD/posts/pfbid0Y9HuN3bGytvQ1iVm3qgPhdBHR8iHXguMyBoDpUMFjBk72A5HVJpgm2hQh5uYhLodl

The Avondale Police Department said there is reason to believe that Rogers could be in danger, as Merena is not a relative.

More at Amber Alert issued for missing 3-year-old Avondale girl - KTAR.com

 

[truthfinder2019]

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02t1gBFNeyhogJoAN1z34bQnd4UK4FBmg5PfkBGTf92gLAnhmRcVgLC58oCEiYAjNhl&id=100066843960986

 

[truthfinder2019]

AMBER Alert | Department of Public Safety

www.azdps.gov

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Police have released physical descriptions to assist the search. Descriptions vary slightly across initial reports; the following consolidates the details provided by investigators:

• Kehlani Marie Rogers: a 3-year-old Black girl; height listed in accounts as either 3 feet or 3 feet 5 inches; thin build; braided brown hair; eyes described as hazel or brown. She was last seen wearing pink pajamas.
• The woman known only as "Merena": described as a short, thin white female with brown hair worn in a ponytail and hazel eyes; clothing noted as a white shirt with pink or purple pants. Investigators list her age as about 30 in some briefings.

The amber alert underscores the urgency of locating Kehlani and quickly identifying the whereabouts of the woman believed to be with her. Local hospitals and agencies have been notified during the initial response; Kehlani has not been located at this time.

Amber Alert Issued for Missing 3-Year-Old Kehlani Rogers in Avondale as Police Seek Public Help

An amber alert has been issued after a 3-year-old girl, Kehlani Marie Rogers, was allegedly kidnapped from her home in Avondale late Friday night. The alert mobilizes local law enforcement and asks the public to help locate the child and th…

www.filmogaz.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Authorities said she is believed to be with a woman known as Merena, who is described as a 30-year-old white woman with brown hair and hazel eyes. She has a short, thin build and was last seen wearing a white shirt with pink or purple pants and a ponytail, according to the flyer.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2026/02/21/amber-alert-kehlani-rogers-3-missing-from-avondale/88800148007/

 

[sds71]

@ashleyvholden


UPDATE AMBER ALERT: This addresses a photo regarding “Merena”, police say they are aware of the photo but can’t verify it. @abc15

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025371906892042569

 

[Trish51]

Hoping this baby is found.

 

[SUNchips]

Hinkey meter going off!!! Why was she seen at 11:30pm? Hopefully that was before her parents went to bed they checked her bedroom at that time and she was asleep. Otherwise…what’s a 3 year old doing up at that time and why is a woman who the parents don’t even know well enough to know her last name at their house with access to their child at or after 11:30pm?

 

[scaredtopost]

Could "Marena" be related to "Zanny"? Sorry, I shouldn't speculate without more information but I can say my daughter would never be in the company of anyone other than immediate family at that age. JMO, MOO, etc.

 

[masterstink]

Has anyone seen the post of a woman named Mariana Noriega in Maricopa they're saying it is......?

 

[Chainspell]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025434943611175247

 

[katellie]

The city of Maricopa (not to be confused with Maricopa County) is about an hour southeast from where Kehlani was abducted. Based on the surveillance photo, I would guess they’re at a Bashas grocery store.

 

[truthfinder2019]

There are a couple of possibilities in this case but IMO the most likely is that the kidnapper was babysitting for some reason. Yet I wonder why her full name was not known from the outset.
The cctv image shows Kehlani relaxed in her pram, she must have somehow known the kidnapper
JMO

 

[TristanP]

There are a couple of possibilities in this case but IMO the most likely is that the kidnapper was babysitting for some reason. Yet I wonder why her full name was not known from the outset.
The cctv image shows Kehlani relaxed in her pram, she must have somehow known the kidnapper
JMO

She appears to be asleep to me.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

What a sweet looking baby girl. I hope this is just a case of someone wanting a baby and to play Mummy. Given police now have a name and image, I hope they can zero in and find Kehlani safe and well.

 

[Sjöberg]

I can say my daughter would never be in the company of anyone other than immediate family at that age

This is a condition most people do not have.
This is assuming you you have immediate family, that they live close and that they are willing to babysit and also reliable and safer to the kids than a hired person. We are also talking about a 3-year-old, not a 1-month-old newborn. Usually when parental leave benefits end, childcare has to be organized (and this is Arizona not Europe).

 

[truthfinder2019]

It could also be she was just hosted there for some reason, but again I find it strange the name was not known from the outset. Unless she was there « known » by other family members maybe ?
I suppose we’ll have to wait for the official explanations. In the meantime I wish they would put out there more photos of both Kehlani and fhe abductor in MSM ( you can find a lot in FB)

 

[Sjöberg]

I find it strange the name was not known from the outset

I must say, with the racial difference and the "probable first name" only, it did initally sound super sus (similar to "a black stranger robbed our house and killed my wife" or "an unkown hispanic hit me and took my baby").
Now that there is CCTV of said female and the toddler, the general story is confirmed. The details behind it are being left out kinda oddly, though - there must be some relationship to the child, even if it is not "babysitter" but "neighbour" or "friend of our cousin".

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Woman suspected of taking 3-year-old from Avondale believed to be seen in City of Maricopa, police say

Kehlani was last seen near 118th and Edgemont avenues at 11:30 p.m.

www.12news.com

*****
The Avondale Police Department said three-year-old Kehlani Rogers was last seen by her parents at 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 20 near 118th and Edgemont avenues when they put her to bed. When the parents woke up, Kehlani was gone.

*****
Family told 12News that Noriega was brought in by the family after asking for help and they believe she left with Kehlani in a stroller by going out of the garage.

"She's a very loving little girl and I don't understand why would someone want to take her from her family. We love her, and she's a daddy's girl," Kehlani's aunt said. "The lady that has her... just give her back to us. Bring her back."

Police said surrounding agencies and hospitals have been notified of Kehlani's disappearance.

*****

https://people.com/3-year-old-girl-vanishes-from-near-her-home-police-release-photo-of-suspect-11911497

*****
A family member shared with ABC 15 Arizona that Rogers’ father took Noriega into his home “because she needed a helping hand.” The nature of the pair’s relationship is unknown at this time.

"The fact that she was not allowed to be taken, there was no prior conversation, there was no plan. They woke up this morning and Kehlani’s gone and Marina’s gone – this is what leads us to believe that she’s in danger," said APD’s Jaret Redfearn, per Fox 10 Phoenix.

*****

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“This evening, detectives acted on one of the many tips provided by our community, leading to the identification of a suspect: Mariana Noriega…,” the APD shared in a Facebook update on Saturday, Feb. 22. “Surveillance footage from a local business confirmed that Noriega was last seen today in the City of Maricopa, Ariz., with the victim, Kehlani Rogers.”

https://people.com/3-year-old-girl-vanishes-from-near-her-home-police-release-photo-of-suspect-11911497