Unamused Cat
October 23rd, 2008, 03:08 PM
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg107/snarkyphotos/darnelia.jpg
When SWAT team members burst into a west Phoenix drophouse, they saw the usual group of illegal immigrants. But another sight stopped them cold: a sweet-faced, 5-year-old girl.
And nearly a week later, no one knows who she is.
Darnelia didn't know her surname or the names of her parents. She also couldn't name her grandmother, who went missing after they crossed the border illegally from Agua Prieta. The little girl didn't know where she lived in Mexico.
Now, state investigators are desperately trying to reunite her with her family.
"The good news is she's in good health and spirits and had not been abused," said Lt. Bob Smart, who runs immigration enforcement for the Arizona Department of Public Safety. "That was really the only comfort we took."
After the noise and confusion settled, the 5-year-old stole the officers' hearts.
"She was smiling and playing with sticks in the yard and looking up in amazement at the airplanes," Smart said.
The girl remains in the custody of Child Protective Services as investigators sift through so-called pollo books. Those are rosters kept by coyotes to track immigrants' payments, destinations and relatives. Smart is hopeful they will lead to Darnelia's relatives. Coyotes told investigators that Darnelia's father was in California, but this hasn't been confirmed.
"That kid's been loved and cared for. I'm optimistic in human nature," Smart said. "Somebody will come forward, but we're not miracle workers, either. We have to follow all the evidence."
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2008/10/23/20081023darnelia1023.html
When SWAT team members burst into a west Phoenix drophouse, they saw the usual group of illegal immigrants. But another sight stopped them cold: a sweet-faced, 5-year-old girl.
And nearly a week later, no one knows who she is.
Darnelia didn't know her surname or the names of her parents. She also couldn't name her grandmother, who went missing after they crossed the border illegally from Agua Prieta. The little girl didn't know where she lived in Mexico.
Now, state investigators are desperately trying to reunite her with her family.
"The good news is she's in good health and spirits and had not been abused," said Lt. Bob Smart, who runs immigration enforcement for the Arizona Department of Public Safety. "That was really the only comfort we took."
After the noise and confusion settled, the 5-year-old stole the officers' hearts.
"She was smiling and playing with sticks in the yard and looking up in amazement at the airplanes," Smart said.
The girl remains in the custody of Child Protective Services as investigators sift through so-called pollo books. Those are rosters kept by coyotes to track immigrants' payments, destinations and relatives. Smart is hopeful they will lead to Darnelia's relatives. Coyotes told investigators that Darnelia's father was in California, but this hasn't been confirmed.
"That kid's been loved and cared for. I'm optimistic in human nature," Smart said. "Somebody will come forward, but we're not miracle workers, either. We have to follow all the evidence."
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2008/10/23/20081023darnelia1023.html