Saturday, Nov. 16, will mark two months since a 5-year-old girl went missing in Cumberland County.
Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae says that multiple law enforcement agencies continue to search for Dulce Alavez, but that officials are “still in search of key information that would assist in determining what led to Dulce's disappearance.”
Alavez went missing Sept. 16 while playing in Bridgeton City Park in Bridgeton. An Amber Alert issued the day after she went missing is still active.
Webb-McRae says that authorities are still hoping to identify a light-skinned, possibly Hispanic man who was spotted in the park when Alavez went missing. It was initially believed that he may have abducted the girl, but officials have now said that he may be a witness and they want to speak with him.
Friends and family of the missing girl say that they are holding onto hope that she will be found safely.
“I thought that the person was just going to give up and just drop her off somewhere or just find her somewhere local,” says family spokesperson Jackie Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is organizing a vigil to mark the two-month anniversary of Alavez’s disappearance. Members of the community are invited to 1740 S. Burlington Road in Bridgeton for the 5 p.m. vigil.
"I think the family would like to see everyone there so they feel that they have the support of the public,” says Rodriguez.
Authorities say that Alavez’s family has been cooperative in the investigation.
Law enforcement officials are offering a $52,000 reward for information that helps find the missing child. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bridgeton Police Department at 856-451-0033 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Select option 4, then select option 8.