Police say the body of a missing 3-year-old girl was pulled from the Passaic River Saturday morning hours after her uncle took her from her home.

Janiay Rievas' body was found shortly after 8 a.m. on the Passaic side of the river. Rievas' mother told police her uncle, 21-year-old Juan Mendez, left home with Janiay around 6 a.m. and warned the family "to watch the 6 o'clock news tonight."

Police spokesman Andy White says the family thought Mendez was taking the child to get something to eat, but went looking for Mendez and Janiay after a short time. Janiay's mother says Mendez, who is her brother and was living in the same home as the mother and girl, left the home enraged.

Before 7 a.m., the Honda Mendez was driving was found abandoned with the doors open on the Gregory Avenue Bridge. Police spent Saturday searching the river for Mendez. They are unsure if he may have jumped in the river and drowned, or if he fled the scene.

Police say Mendez is addicted to drugs. Authorities ask that anyone with information call the Passaic County Police Department at 973-365-3900.

AP wire services contributed to this report.