Fears for missing girl, 6, after mum found dead
Police are concerned a six-year-old girl who was last seen days before her mother's death may not be found alive.
The body of Elle Ragin's mother, Lisa Wade, was found in her apartment in Northfield, Minnesota, on July 2, Northfield Police said.
It is believed the 39-year-old woman died by suicide.
On June 21, Ms Wade drove to Mississippi River Park in Stearns County when her phone turned off.
A deputy assisted Ms Wade on June 23 after she claimed she had lost her phone and car keys while hiking in the area. She was alone at the time.
Throughout the week leading up to her death, Ms Wade seemed "distraught" when speaking with family members.
However, noone has seen or heard from Elle since Sunday, June 19.
During a news briefing, Police Chief Mark Elliott admitted authorities might not find the six-year-old, despite the extensive investigation.
"We are still extremely hopeful, but based on the information [and] evidence we have at this time, we are concerned that we may not be able to find her," he said.
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Girl's phone discovered near river
After searching the river, police found the six-year-old's mobile phone but there was no trace of the child.
"We searched that area pretty extensively over the last three days and we have not been able to locate Elle," Chief Elliott told KYMN radio on Wednesday (local time).
"But we did locate actually Elle's cell phone and Lisa Wade's, the mother's, cell phone, car keys in her purse."
He said the discoveries were important to the investigation.
In a police release on July 6, initial investigations revealed Ms Wade may have been involved in her daughter's disappearance before she took her own life.
"This is a heartbreaking case," Chief Elliot told reporters at Tuesday's news conference.
"A six-year-old being missing, I can't think of one that is much more difficult to investigate than this."
Mary Lou Wallaker lived near Elle and Ms Wade and while she didn't know Ms Wade well, she said she was friendly and that they would wave to one another.
However, Ms Wallaker described Elle as "just a darling little girl" who loved dogs.
"Elle was so interested in the dogs so she would sort of look into the back windows and see if she could see them and if I'd see her I would speak to her and she would always say hello," Ms Wallaker said, according to CBS News.
Ms Wallaker said she hopes Elle was sent away or that she is visiting someone, adding she is "very concerned".
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