A girl named "China" or "Chyna" is one of the most important leads Philadelphia police have, two weeks into the investigation of a 5-year-old girl's abduction.
The little girl was abducted from her elementary school on Jan. 14. This past weekend, detectives took her back to the school to retrace her steps. That's when she told them she remembers meeting a girl named "China" during the time she was held.
"All we can say at this time is that at some point during her captivity she had contact with this young woman," Special Victims Unit Capt. John Darby told NBC10's Daralene Jones. "This young woman, when asked her name, she identified herself as China, so based on that information, we consider China a person of interest."
Police say "China/Chyna" is a teenage girl, probably between the ages of 14 and 17. She is a thin-built black, light-skinned girl with long, straight black hair. She was last seen wearing a hoody and tights.
Investigators want to get the information out in the community because they believe people who know China may be able to lead them to the abductors. The reward for information that leads police to the capture and conviction of the abductors is now up to $80,000.
"Because of the age of this victim, everyone should be paying attention, and as I said, this child may never return to normal." Capt. Darby won't get specific, but said last week that the victim endured an "unspeakable experience."
The victim was taken from her West Philadelphia school. Surveillance video shows the woman who told school staff she was the little girl's mother. The woman, who was dressed in Muslim garb, signed the victim out of class and led her out of Bryant Elementary school at 60th Street and Cedar Avenue.
Police say a man met up with the woman and victim a few blocks away. Police say the two took the girl to a nearby home, forced her to undress, blindfolded her and eventually dropped her off in an Upper Darby park.
Theses are the updated descriptions police have of the suspects: A dark-skinned (possibly pregnant) black woman in her late 20s, about 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-8-inches tall with greenish or light-colored eyes who was wearing dark-colored Muslim clothing and possibly goes by "Rashida." And, a very light-skinned white man in his mid-30s with short brown hair who wore sweat pants and a blue long-sleeved T-shirt.
Early that next morning, a man spotted the victim in the park, after hearing her screams. He wrapped his jacket around her shivering body and called 911.
Anyone with information can call Philadelphia police at 215-686-TIPS (8477), the Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3251 or 911. Emails can be sent to: tips@phillypolice.com
