Detroit police fan out to search for missing girl

Amber Alert issued for missing 2-year-old Bianca Lily Jones

Bianca Lilly Jones

DETROIT – Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee said he and his officers have launched an all-out search of an area to find a 2-year-old girl last seen in a vehicle that was carjacked in the city Friday morning.

Michigan State Police have also issued an Amber Alert for the girl: Bianca Lily Jones.

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In an interview with Local 4, Jones' father, Deondre Lane, said he pulled over near Interstate 75 and East Grand Boulevard after a driver in a red car had shouted to him that something was wrong with his taillights. Lane said a man then pulled a gun on him and took off with his silver Mercury Marquis, which still had his daughter strapped in her car seat. Police recovered the car Lane was driving and were searching for the carjacker based on Lane's description -- View sketch here.

Police questioned Lane but are not commenting on what he told them.

Timeline:

  • 7:30 a.m. Bianca leaves a home on Mitchell Street with her father

  • 9:55: a.m.: Lane reports he was carjacked on Beaubien, between Euclid and Philadelphia

  • 10:15 a.m.: Police find Lane's vehicle just blocks away in an alley off Brush between Philadelphia and Euclid

Jones' mother, Banika Jones, said her daughter had her birthday on Saturday and answers to the nickname "Bacon." She said her daughter was spending the night with her father and was supposed to be returned Friday morning to her home on Custer Street.

"My daughter is wearing a purple coat with gold trim and pink tights. Her hair is braided and she has beads in it. She is very smart," the mother said. "Just bring (Bianca) home. I'm not really worried about you. I don't really care. I just want my baby. I just want my daughter. That's all. Just bring my daughter home to me."

Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee said he has officers and K-9s doing grid searches in the area. Officers were combing yards, overturning debris and going in and out of vacant buildings. FBI agents were also involved in the search.

"We're compiling information. We're going to leave no stone unturned," Godbee said. "Time is critical."

Bianca's uncle, Orlando Jones, said he feels helpless.

"What can I do? There's nothing I can do. I hate this feeling because I want to do something. I'm very upset. I've never experienced this before," he said.

Godbee said Bianca's father is being questioned, but would not comment on if he was being considered a person of interest in her disappearance.

"Well, right now Bianca's dad is the link to everything we do. He's the last one that had seen Bianca. So, we really need to go over his story and talk to him, make sure we corroborate information," Godbee said.

Godbee asked anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 800-SPEAKUP.

An anonymous benefactor has donated $15,000 toward a reward to find Bianca.  Crime Stoppers is also offering $2,500, bringing the total reward to $17,500.

Bianca Lilly Jones