San Francisco police and the FBI on Friday announced a reward for leads into the 2016 homicide of Nicole Fitts and her missing daughter has increased to $250,000.
Law enforcement officials in a news conference held at the San Francisco Police Department plead for the public's help in solving the case and finding Arianna Fitts, who was 2 years old when she went missing.
"We want to take this opportunity today to assure the public and those who knew Nicole and Arianna that we continue to actively investigate this case," said James Aherne, SFPD's acting commander of investigations. "We will continue to investigate as long as it takes to find out what happened."
Officials on Friday also released a new age-progression photo of Arianna, who would be 8 years old today.
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The body of 32-year-old Nicole Fitts was found April 2016 in San Francisco’s McLaren Park. Police said the mother of two was buried in a small, shallow grave and covered with plywood. The focus then turned to finding Nicole’s daughter, who remains missing to this day.
"We do not believe that Arianna was with Nicole at the time of her death, but we do believe Arianna's disappearance is related to Nicole's murder," said Scott Schelble, FBI San Francisco's assistant special agent in charge.
Police have not named any suspects or persons of interest in the case.
Friends and family gathered Friday afternoon at McLaren Park for a vigil to pay tribute to Nicole Fitts. The $250,000 reward announced Friday is up from the initial $100,000 offered for any information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects responsible for the disappearance of Arianna Fitts.
Anyone with information may contact the FBI San Francisco division at 415-553-7400 or the SFPD anonymous tip line at 415-575-4444.
