FBI searching for girl, 2, believed taken by dad
WILKINSBURG (AP) – The FBI has joined the search for a missing Pennsylvania 2-year-old whose father has been charged with her kidnapping.
Police say Jaleeyah Ortiz was last seen at her home in Wilkinsburg, near Pittsburgh, the week before Christmas.
They suspect 32-year-old Tex Ortiz took her to New York, where he has relatives, after the girl’s grandmother filed a custody petition.
Tex didn’t show up for a scheduled Dec. 19 hearing. A judge granted Jaleeyah’s grandmother custody, but Lori Clark’s says Tex sent a text message saying the girl would be staying with him.
A parole officer says he last saw Tex and Jaleeyah on Dec. 21.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says Jaleeyah’s mother died in October. The results of an autopsy haven’t been released.
The newspaper reported the FBI’s involvement Friday.