Baby found, officials still searching for suspect after Amber Alert issued in Kansas City
An 8-month-old girl has been found after her father, armed with a handgun, allegedly took her by force Wednesday morning from her Kansas City home.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert for Malani Avery, who was allegedly taken by force from her mom’s home at gunpoint in the 400 block of North Belmont Boulevard around 9:14 a.m. after a reported parental abduction, according to Capt. Leslie Foreman, a spokeswoman for the Kansas City Police Department.
Malani’s mother told police that the baby’s father, 21-year-old Markelv Avery, had taken her by force and was armed with a handgun.
At a news conference early Wednesday afternoon, Foreman said police had found Malani shortly before 1 p.m. safe and uninjured. She was not with Markelv Avery when she was found, Foreman said.
Officials are still searching for Markelv Avery.
He is believed to be driving a 2005 white Acura that is missing a front bumper and has a sunroof. Officials do not know the license plate information of the vehicle. He may be armed and dangerous.
Markelv Avery was last seen wearing a jean jacket. He is 6 feet and 2 inches tall and weighs around 150 pounds.
Foreman said police aren’t sure where Markelv Avery could be headed and are urging anyone with information about his whereabouts to call 911.
“When a child is missing, when there’s a weapon involved, we don’t know what’s going to happen,” Foreman said. “That’s why we make every effort to get the information out.”
This story was originally published January 18, 2023 at 12:40 PM.
