Oakland Police Search Near College for Toddler

OAKLAND (AP) -- Dozens of investigators, some using search dogs, scoured an area near Oakland's Merritt College as they looked for a 22-month-old girl who vanished last month.

Authorities turned up no trace of Daphne Webb on Saturday, but police Sgt. Mike Gantt told the Oakland Tribune they had one more area they planned to search before the weekend was over.

He declined to say why police suddenly focused on the area near the college.

Daphne vanished July 10.

Her father, John Webb, has told police someone snatched the girl after he left her in his car while he visited a convenience store.

Webb was arrested the day after she disappeared for investigation of felony child endangerment, but prosecutors declined to file charges.

He was not among about a dozen family members and friends who helped look for Daphne. Local police were also aided by the FBI.

``I'm glad they didn't find Daphne out there in the field. It keeps our hopes up,'' said the girl's maternal grandfather, Kevin Davis, who took part in the search. He said the family remains optimistic she'll be found safe.

Webb had custody of Daphne because the girl's 31-year-old mother, Kiana Davis-Webb, is living in a drug rehabilitation home. Police have not named her as a suspect in the girl's disappearance.
 

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