Search Intensifies for Nevaeh Buchanan

MONROE, Mich. - She disappeared without a trace. It has been 72 hours since anyone has seen Nevaeh Buchanan. Wednesday, police expanded their search for the missing five-year-old girl from Monroe.

The child disappeared from the Charlotte Arms apartment complex Sunday night. Investigators are now sifting through 200 tips. One lead them to a stone quarry located off South Dixie Highway. Michigan State Police cadaver dogs, divers and a boat with sonar spent hours scanning the body of water.

The quarry just happens to be down the road from Motel 7, where the mother's boyfriend, George Kennedy, happened to be living.

Kennedy is a sex offender convicted of fourth-degree CSC who had spent time with Nevaeh in the past. He is currently in custody on a parole violation. Police say Kennedy is still being considered a person of interest.

"He shouldn't have been around her at all. No contact whatsoever. That's what mainly upsets me," said Shane Hinojosa, Nevaeh's father.

FOX 2 News has learned that police are still working to determine whose blood was found on Kennedy's fishing knife, which was discovered shortly after Nevaeh disappeared.

Sherry Buchanan, who had custody of Nevaeh while her daughter served time for home invasion, says her daughter met Kennedy while on probation. "I really, at this time, don't think in my heart that he had anything to do with this," she said.

We're told there are several persons of interest and more that have been questioned. One person stands out, Nevaeh's mother Jennifer Buchanan. She underwent a polygraph test, and her brother says investigators are questioning her again. "I could probably give my 100-percent that she's not behind none of this, said Michael Buchanan, Nevaeh's uncle.

For Nevaeh's family, the unknown is the hardest part. "I want her back, but if I got to get her back in a way that I don't want her, at least I know where she's at and I can go visit her whenever I have to," said Sherry Buchanan.

The Monroe County Sheriff says investigators have interviewed numerous people, but, so far, there are no arrests, charges or signs of Nevaeh Buchanan.