Doubts over timing of girl's disappearance

Photo / The Aucklander

SYDNEY - Doubts have arisen over the timing of the disappearance of a 6-year-old Sydney girl said to have vanished at the weekend after being tucked up in bed by her mother.

Police hold grave fears for the safety of Kiesha Abrahams, who was reported missing on Sunday morning.

Her mother, Kristy, told officers she put her daughter to bed at 9.30pm on Saturday night, and found her gone about 12 hours later.

But as hundreds of police and emergency workers searched for the little girl yesterday, it emerged that she did not attend school last week.

Kiesha lived in a first-floor flat in the western Sydney suburb of Mt Druitt with her mother, her stepfather, Robert Smith, and two siblings, a 3-year-old girl and a month-old boy.

Smith's brother, Jason, said she had been kept at home because of the new baby. He last saw her three weeks ago at a family birthday party.

Described by relatives and family friends as a quiet, happy girl, Kiesha was wearing pink pyjamas and a purple Pumpkin Patch jacket when she was put to bed.

Her mother says she found the front door closed but unlocked in the morning.

There were no signs of forced entry, and police say it is not clear whether the blonde, blue-eyed girl wandered off or was snatched.

Kiesha's biological father, who lives close by, has been notified of her disappearance.

The Mt Druitt area police commander, Superintendent Wayne Cox, declined to rule him out as a suspect.

Jason Smith said Kiesha's parents were distraught, and her disappearance had "left a big hole in our hearts".

He said: "We're missing her dearly, and we would just like her home. There's a place missing at the dinner table."

Search teams have scoured stormwater drains near the family home, as well as backyards, parks, bushland, waterways and shopping centres.

The Daily Telegraph reported that detectives recovered a bag of children's clothing from bushland near where Kiesha was reported missing.

The newspaper said the clothing appeared to belong to a young girl - a white top with a black and pink pattern on it. But later police said it was "not connected to this particular case".

Police were trying to establish yesterday when Kiesha was last seen by anyone other than a close family member.

Superintendent Cox said officers were speaking to school authorities about her absence.

"We are speaking to all family members and relatives to confirm the last sighting of Kiesha," he said.

A family friend, Kylie Wakeling, said: "She's like any other 6-year-old who loves to play and muck around. She's definitely not a wanderer. She's very quiet, and sticks to herself."