A Houston rescue and recovery group sifted through a Texas landfill in a desperate search for a missing 2-year-old girl who was last seen in her father’s apartment.
The group Texas EquuSearch said Monday that 20 people have been digging through the private landfill for any signs of toddler Nadia Lee who disappeared on Oct. 16 from the Lone Star city of Pasadena, according to local reports.
EquuSearch founder and director Tim Miller told the television station the crew is combing carefully through the landfill just off the highway.
“Literally just cutting open every bag and everything,” he said.
“Just hope we can bring it to an end. I would certainly hope it wouldn’t be here, but just in case it is, we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”
Miller also warned the search for Lee was short on time.
“Time’s not on our side,” Miller said to KHOU. “I don’t think any of us expect that happy ending.
“We do believe in miracles, and it would certainly take a miracle to get her back alive right now,” Miller added.
Toddler Nadia Lee went missing last month and police believe she could be dead. Twitter / @houstonpoliceThe small child’s father, 26-year-old Jyron Lee, allegedly killed his common-law wife Nancy Reed, 22, during an argument over how their kids are disciplined, according to authorities.
He remains in custody in Harris County Jail, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Police have treated the little girl’s disappearance as a homicide since Oct, 21, the newspaper reported.
“We have received information, as well as physical evidence, and digital forensic evidence to determine foul play was involved,” said Houston police Sgt. Blake Roberts said, according to KTRK-TV.
The search has now turned to a landfill off the highway. KHOU-11Authorities have searched for her in wooded areas near her dad’s home, and have not revealed any new information on where she could be, the Chronicle reported.
The landfill being searched this week is about the size of a football field, according to KHOU. Officials said they might need to dig as deep as eight feet deep.
Jyron Lee’s children, 1 and 3, were present when the alleged slaying took place and are now in Child Protective Services custody, according to KTRK.
Jyron Lee is accused of killing his common-law wife Nancy Reed. Twitter / @houstonpoliceThe couple had five children together, according to the family.
“It is heartbreaking. It really is,” Nadia Lee’s grandmother Nora Reed told the station. “My heart is breaking in half. “I just hope we find the baby, we find Nadia.”
