Authorities in Rock Island are urgently searching for a missing 4-year-old girl, Blessing, after the vehicle she was in was stolen early Thursday morning.
Around 6:07 a.m. on the 1300 block of 14th 1/2 Street, Blessing’s mother left her in a booster seat with the car running while she went inside a residence, Illinois State Police said on X. When the mother returned, the vehicle was gone.
The car was recovered just 17 minutes later near 8th Street and 15th Avenue, but Blessing was not inside.
Blessing J. Aoci is described by the police as an African American female, approximately 3 feet tall, and has black hair with twists and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink jacket, pink boots and blue pants.
🚨AMBER ALERT – ACTIVATE
At approx. 6:07 am a vehicle was stolen from the 1300 block of 14th 1/2 ST while it was left running with a 4-year old in a car seat in the back seat. The vehicle was located at approx. 6:24 am, in the area of 8th ST and 15th Avenue, however the child… pic.twitter.com/r9cTyY5Cz0
— IllinoisStatePolice (@ILStatePolice) January 16, 2025
Law enforcement agencies, including Rock Island police, Rock Island county sheriff’s department, and Moline police are working together to locate the child. Search efforts include door-to-door canvassing and the use of drones, police said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact 911 or Rock Island police immediately at 309-732-2677.