Police follow more than 100 leads in search for Chicago girl

CHICAGO (AP) -- Detectives followed up on tips as far away as Arizona and Oregon in their search for a toddler reported to have been taken from a bus station on Christmas Eve.

Authorities also distributed 1,500 pictures of 16-month-old Jasmine Anderson on Wednesday to law enforcement agencies nationwide, said Chicago police department spokesman Pat Camden said.

The child's mother, Marcella Anderson, scoured photos of suspects but couldn't identify the woman who she says befriended her, offered her a ride and then took her child.

"The only thing I see is my baby's face," she said. "I tried to picture the lady, but all I can see is my baby. She's a bundle of joy. She's too friendly, like me."

Anderson said she and her two daughters were waiting for a bus to Milwaukee at the Greyhound station Monday when a woman approached the family. The woman, who Anderson said had a name tattooed on her neck, offered to give them a ride home to Milwaukee. She also offered to hold Jasmine while Anderson took her other daughter, 3-year-old Alicia, with her to the ticket counter.

Anderson said she was waiting in line to refund the tickets when the woman disappeared with Jasmine.

Officials interviewed witnesses at the bus station, all of whom supported Anderson's story, leading police to believe they are investigating a rare abduction case.

"Nothing at this point points to the family," Sgt. Mark Hawkins said. "Everything she told us has checked out."

Jasmine's father, Greg Knowles, arrived in Chicago on Wednesday from Milwaukee and was questioned again by FBI agents, officials said, as a matter of routine. He already had been questioned by agents in Milwaukee and police said they do not consider him a suspect in Jasmine's disappearance.

"I miss her a lot," Knowles said. "I want to know where she is, and I want whoever has her to give her back. I would love to be able to see my daughter again and know she's OK."

Hundreds of thousands of children are reported missing each year, but only 200 to 300 of those cases turn out to be abductions by strangers. There have been only five confirmed cases in Chicago involving strangers over the last 15 years.

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On the Net:

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: http://www.missingkids.com/