AMBER ALERT CT - Vanessa Morales, 1, missing after mother found deceased, Ansonia, 28 Nov 2019

[HayLouise]

The community is out in full force for a vigil for 1-year-old Vanessa Morales at Veterans’ Memorial Park in #Ansonia. Vanessa has been officially missing since Monday. An active Amber Alert remains active for her.



Tara O'Neill on Twitter

A pastor sings “King of Heaven” at the vigil in #Ansonia for 1-year-old Vanessa Morales. About 100 people are gathered at Veterans’ Memorial Park, praying for the safe return of Vanessa.

(Video)

Tara O'Neill on Twitter

Some of the crowd singing along to “Amazing Grace” here at the vigil in #Ansonia

(Video)

Tara O'Neill on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

So many are gathering at a vigil for Vanessa Morales, a missing one-year-old from #Ansonia.

To be clear, this is a moment about hope and solidarity, according to organizers.

The Amber Alert is still active.

@WFSBnews



Shawnte Passmore on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

#Ansonia vigil for missing little girl, 1 year-old Vanessa Morales



CTLaSalle Blanks on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Ansonia community members are coming together tonight to pray for the safe return of 1-year-old Vanessa Morales. She was reported missing when her mother was found murdered Monday at their home. #AmberAlert #NBCCT @NBCConnecticut



Caitlin Burchill on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Many people have showed up for a vigil in Ansonia in honor of missing one year old Vanessa Morales



Taylor DiChello on Twitter

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“I’m speechless,” said Joshua Morales, Vanessa’s cousin. “So many people showed up tonight.”

Edward Smith, who’s married to one of Vanessa’s cousins, says this ordeal has been hard on the family — especially at this time of the year.

“We just want her home for Christmas,” Smith said.
Ansonia vigil for missing 1 year-old girl

***That evening, a concerned relative requested another welfare check because the relative hadn’t heard from the mother, Lynch said. This time, the police statement said, officers forced their way inside and found the woman dead
Amber Alert issued for 1-year-old girl missing for more than a week after mother found dead

***A stranger came up and was praying for me right there and it absolutely broke my heart. It made my choke up,” said Vanessa’s cousin Joshua Morales.
Ansonia Community Prays for Missing 1-Year-Old's Safe Return Home

https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/vanessa-morales/@@download.pdf

 

[Amstorrs]

Checking for an online article, but earlier WFSB aired on tv that a car seat was found after serving a search warrant in connection to missing baby Vanessa.

 

[Amstorrs]

Checking for an online article, but earlier WFSB aired on tv that a car seat was found after serving a search warrant in connection to missing baby Vanessa.

Ansonia vigil for missing 1 year-old girl

According to this article the car seat turned out to not be related.

 

[Beth11311]

I wonder what led police to conclude that Vanessa is alive and somewhere in CT? Were there signs that someone had packed her belongings?
Perhaps it is just wishful thinking on their part.

prayers for her safe return.

Generally the MO is to operate under the assumption a missing child is alive unless there is evidence to the contrary. Keeps people looking, as well as for other reasons (if they’re watching someone, they want to keep that person in the dark and thinking that LE does not know as much as they do, etc).

 

[Trino]

Things I would like to know:
Evidence of forced entry... If so, was the break-in just pick a lock, or was it break down the door?
Why didn't the mother call 911? Did she know the killer?
Who did she know? Who were her friends? (Haven't heard anything other than relatives.)
What was the murder weapon? Was it located?
Were there bloody prints, including footprints, since this must have been a very violent murder?
And, of course, what evidence is available as to items missing re: Venessa?

 

[oviedo]

Things I would like to know:
Evidence of forced entry... If so, was the break-in just pick a lock, or was it break down the door?
Why didn't the mother call 911? Did she know the killer?
Who did she know? Who were her friends? (Haven't heard anything other than relatives.)
What was the murder weapon? Was it located?
Were there bloody prints, including footprints, since this must have been a very violent murder?
And, of course, what evidence is available as to items missing re: Venessa?

All good questions - I’m considering that the person may have had a key or was already in the home at the time of the murder - the first well check must not have yielded any obvious damage to the doors to windows since nothing was done - I’m wondering how the second request (assuming there was a second since LE returned that evening) was worded to LE for them to look closer and then force entry finding her deceased (articles describing this are on of 1 of media thread)
And they are quiet about the findings at the house IMO

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Checking for an online article, but earlier WFSB aired on tv that a car seat was found after serving a search warrant in connection to missing baby Vanessa.

I read that this morning. I’ll need to look for the article when I’m able. It said it was a tip LE followed up on but it wasn’t related. Let me go look. Be back.

Here it is:
Late Saturday night, Ansonia Police got a call from New Haven Police, saying they got a tip that something suspicious was spotted in the parking lot of the Westview Commons apartment homes.

Officers from both departments descended upon the location trying to see if the item was connected to the missing girl case. The object turned out to be a car seat and it was NOT connected to Vanessa’s disappearance.

Ansonia Lt. Patrick Lynch says it shows how quickly police are acting on tips that are coming in. Edward Smith, who’s married to one of Vanessa’s cousins, says this ordeal has been hard on the family — especially at this time of the year.
Ansonia community gathers at vigil for 1-year-old Vanessa Morales

 

[Peppery]

I wonder what led police to conclude that Vanessa is alive and somewhere in CT? Were there signs that someone had packed her belongings?
Perhaps it is just wishful thinking on their part.

prayers for her safe return.

It’s pretty common for LE to assume a missing person is alive when putting out into to the public. Even in cases where they know the person is deceased. Most recently I think of Aniah Blanchard where they knew at least one shot had been fired and the amount of blood indicated it would have been difficult to survive, all inside her car. But police slowly fed us worse and worse scenarios until they confirmed she was likely deceased, even though they suspected that the day they found her vehicle.

 

[Trino]

LE has stated the first priority is finding Venessa. Well, yeah, but if you find the killer, it's obvious to me that finding Venessa will follow - unless, of course, he (yep HE) is not taken/found alive. Nothing gained either way.

 

[Alkali13]

LE has stated the first priority is finding Venessa. Well, yeah, but if you find the killer, it's obvious to me that finding Venessa will follow - unless, of course, he (yep HE) is not taken/found alive. Nothing gained either way.

You're assuming they'll not only talk, but admit to it.

The first priority is VM because there's at least a CHANCE she's still alive (although it grows slimmer by the day). I hate to be crude, but CH and the crime scene aren't going anywhere. Also, LE has been at CH's nonstop and is combing through evidence. They've removed multiple items from the home, including items "consistent with homicide." While JM hasn't been named a suspect, he's also not going anywhere since he is currently incarcerated on other charges. There's no rush in the murder case, unfortunately.

Finding ANY evidence of VM is first priority, regardless of whether she's alive or not. The family needs closure, and they will only gain more evidence if they can find her.

 

[Peppery]

Bumping Vanessa to the front page and hoping she’s somewhere warm and safe.

 

[afitzy]

Sort of an aside, but it was just announced that WFSBs longtime anchor Denise D’Ascenzo died suddenly. So sad.

I haven’t heard anything firsthand yet, but our Valley Indy reporter is great so hopefully he’ll update tomorrow.

Yes, tragic as she has been such a consistent force in CT for such a long time. Here is the latest article on this tragic situation:
Longtime WFSB anchor Denise D’Ascenzo dies

 

[carbuff]

Wow. What an amazing woman she was. So sorry she's gone.

 

[afitzy]

Fox61 Report - Cousin Interview:

 

[afitzy]

Ansonia PD Press Conference 12/5: