Article published May 25, 2009
Monroe prays for girl's safe return
BLADE STAFF
MONROE — As authorities continue to search for the missing 5-year-old Nevaeh Buchanan, friends and relatives gathered Monday night to pray for her safe return.
More than 50 people came to share tears and hugs at the apartment complex where the girl was last seen about 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
“Our hearts ache for you,” said the Rev. Dale Hayford of Monroe Crosswalk Community Church. “We need to pray for a miracle today.”
Nevaeh was last seen playing in the parking lot of the Charlotte Arms apartment complex, 1160 North Macomb St. in Monroe, where she lives with her mother Jennifer Buchanan and grandmother Sherry Buchanan.
Earlier Monday law enforcement officials, family members, and area residents Monday walked through wooded areas and backyards, along creeks, and in shopping centers looking for Nevaeh.
So far, she has not been found.
Monroe County Sheriff’s Lt. Todd Opperman said authorities were interviewing everyone in the apartment complex and following tips called in from the community.
“We’re checking everything that we can check,” he said, adding they will search for the girl “as long as it takes.”
The sheriff’s office detained Monday two people for questioning — a registered sex offender who was a friend of the girl’s mother and the other a transient seen in the area. Both men were being questioned, but neither was a suspect, authorities said.
George Kennedy, 39, who lives in a hotel at 15390 Dixie Hwy., was taken into custody Sunday night on parole violations and was questioned. He has been registered as a sex offender in Michigan since 2002, according to the Michigan State Police Web site. He was convicted on one count each of attempted criminal sexual conduct and attempted children-accosting for immoral purposes, according to the Michigan State Police.
An Amber Alert was issued by the sheriff’s office for the girl who was last seen at 6:30 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot of the Charlotte Arms apartment complex, 1160 North Macomb St. in Monroe.
Nevaeh’s mother has confirmed she was friends with Kennedy.
Police found the girl’s bicycle in the parking lot of the apartment complex and believe she was abducted and is in extreme danger.
She was last seen wearing a red-white-and-blue shirt and knee-length jeans. Nevaeh is 3-foot-8 and weighs 45 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes.
Call the Monroe County Sheriff’s department at 734-243-7070 if you have any information about the missing girl, or call 911.
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