Amber Alert issued for 3-year-old girl missing out of Avondale

AVONDALE, Ariz. - An Amber Alert has been issued for a 3-year-old girl who was believed to be abducted, and is with an adult unrelated to her.

What we know:

Avondale Police, sheriff deputies and the FBI are searching for 3-year-old Kehlani Rogers, who was last seen at around 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 20 at her home near 119th Avenue and West Thomas Road.

Rogers is described as an African American girl, 3-foot-5, thin build, brown braided hair, and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing pink pajamas.

Dig deeper:

She is believed to be with a woman known as "Merena," who is described as a 30-year-old white woman, with a short stature, thin build, brown hair in a ponytail, and hazel eyes. Police said she was wearing a white top with pink or purple pants.

"The fact that she was not allowed to be taken, there was no prior conversation, there was no plan. They wake up this morning and Kehlani’s gone and Merena’s gone – this is what leads us to believe that she’s in danger," Jaret Redfearn with the Avondale Police Department said.

What they're saying:

In an updated statement released just before 6 p.m. on Feb. 21, Avondale Police addressed an image circulating on social media, and urges the woman in the photograph to call the police department to give a statement.

"We are aware that there is a photograph circulating on social media of a female being identified by Kehlani’s relatives of a person believed to be "Merena". We also received that photograph from a family member who wished to remain anonymous. At this time, we are unable to verify the validity of the photograph…"

Local perspective:

Police are searching cars and talking to neighbors.

"They stopped over here and just kind of asking if they could let their dogs do a little quick search around the property – and absolutely. Anything to help the situation," a neighbor said.

"Police officers came by my house this morning and asked us if we had cameras, and they wanted to find out if there was anything on our cameras, but we didn’t see anything," another said.

What we don't know:

Police have not released any information on a vehicle or how exactly the child was taken from the neighborhood.

What you can do:

"Kehlani, she's such a beautiful girl and her parents are hurting so bad right now. And our plea to the public is just, please help us. And all we ask is that you keep your eyes open," Redhearn said.

Anyone with information surrounding the adult or child's whereabouts is asked to call Avondale Police at 623-333-7000, or Silent Witness at 480-948-6377. A reward for up to $1,000 is being offered in the case.