MONROE, Mich. -- The boyfriend of a mother whose 5-year-old daughter is the subject of an Amber Alert and another man are in police custody and are being questioned about her disappearance.

Family members said George Kennedy, 39, has been dating the mother of Nevaeh Buchanan, who is missing.

Jennifer Buchanan denies that she was dating Kennedy and said they have been friends for several years. She said she knew he had a criminal record and is on the sex offender list.

In 2002, Kennedy was sentenced to 15 years in prison for home invasion and third-degree criminal sexual conduct. He was released in 2007 and remains on parole until July 2009.

Police said Kennedy is being detained because he violated the terms of his parole by having a relationship with a woman who has a child under the age of 17.

Jennifer Buchanan's brother, Michael Buchanan told Local 4 he knew Kennedy was a sex offender and he used to fight with his sister about letting him around his niece.

"Other than that, it's like Jenny is an adult. What can I really say?" said Michael Buchanan.

Another man, who was described only as a transient, was also questioned in the case. He was released Tuesday afternoon.

Nevaeh Buchanan's father, Shane Hinojosa, who lives in Toledo, said he has not seen his daughter in two and a half years. Hinojosa has been ordered to take a polygraph test.

The Monroe Evening News is reporting that Jennifer Buchanan told the paper that she failed one question Monday on a polygraph due to a lack of sleep.

Both Jennifer Buchanan and Kennedy failed questions on a lie detector. However, neither of them have been named as suspects in the case.

"I am not saying we're better people than they are. But I can guarantee if we had her we wouldn't all be doing this right now," said Hinojosa's mother Carla Elliotte.

Hinojosa said he's disappointed that the Jennifer Buchanan would let a registered sex offender come around his child.

"I wouldn't put my child in that situation. Putting my child around a pedophile like that."

Child Vanishes

Nevaeh Buchanan was last seen at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at 1166 N. Macomb Street in Monroe. The Amber Alert was issued a few hours later.

Jennifer Buchanan told Local 4 her daughter lives with her and her mother and on Sunday evening she was outside playing with a friend. The friend came into her home and told the mother that Nevaeh was playing with her scooter.

Jennifer Buchanan said she went outside to tell her daughter not to go near the road, but when she got there the girl was gone.

Police found her scooter in the parking lot of the apartment complex.

"We need to speak with anyone who has specific knowledge of any of the events that occurred in the complex during the hours of 5 p.m. and 11 p.m.," said Monroe Lt. Todd Opperman.

Jennifer Buchanan said she is sure that someone snatched her daughter.

"Almost 100 percent sure she got snatched. I know she would have put up some kind of fight because she is loud. I think someone put a hand over her mouth, took her in the back," she said.

Fighting back tears, Jennifer Buchanan said she is sick to her stomach to even think about what could have come after that.

Nevaeh preschool teacher, Michelle Sims, said the girl was very close to her family.

"When grandma would drop her off, even up to a month ago, she would still cry that she wanted to stay with grandma instead of come with us," Sims said. "So, she was real clingy to grandma, just really involved with her family."

"If anybody has her and she's still alive, just bring her back to me," said Nevaeh's grandma, Sherry Buchanan. "That's all I ask of you and I won't ask any questions. I just want to hold her and keep her near to me, and if she's not let me lay her down and be peaceful with the good Lord up above."

Search Intensifies

Police searched inside all 180 units of the apartment complex Sunday night and continued to search for the girl Monday and Tuesday.

Police dogs, the FBI and surrounding law enforcement agencies searched a field around the complex Monday afternoon and the Michigan State police were searching the Monroe motel where Kennedy has been living and a nearby quarry.

Friends and family members have organized their own search teams around town.

A private investigator organized a search effort Tuesday evening. Crowds gathered at the Kmart on North Monroe Street before spreading out.

"We want to do something to help this little girl," said Jim Duvall, of the investigation company Duvall Group. "We're going to go on the west side ... we're going to walk the roads and check the ditches."

"I've been up all hours of the night. I've searched woods, ditches, canals, Dumpsters and through the whole county," said the Buchanans' cousin Shahn Lawson.

Buchanan is 3 feet 8 inches tall, 45 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

She was last seen wearing a red, white and blue shirt and knee-length jeans. Her mother said she did not have on socks or shoes.

Police believe she was abducted and is in extreme danger.

"Just bring her home. Take me in her place. Do whatever you have to do to me," Lawson pleaded to a Local 4 camera.

If you have any information, call 911 or the Monroe County Sheriff at 734-243-7070.

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