ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (KWQC) – Rock Island Police Department said five people have been arrested in connection to the search for a missing girl.
Jaron Bailey-Harris, 18, was arrested and charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Four teenagers were also arrested:
A 16-year old Hispanic male was charged with kidnapping and possession of a stolen vehicle.
A 16-year old, black male, a 15-year old Black female, a 14-year old Black female were each charged with possession of a stolen vehicle.
The incident remains under investigation by the Rock Island Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Rock Island Police Department at 309-732-2677 or Crime Stoppers at 309-762-9500 or using the P3 Tips app.
Nearly nine hours after she was reported missing, a 4-year-old was back with her family.
She was found safe in an alley near her home.
Multiple agencies were searching for Blessing Aoci who they said was inside a vehicle stolen early Thursday morning.
Hailee Showalter and Anissa Hodges were with Blessing’s mother in an alley when they found Blessing just before 3 p.m.
Showalter said the three were yelling Blessing’s name when they heard screaming and crying.
Blessing was in an alley banging on a door trying to get in.
“I’ve been out here since 8:30 this morning helping my husband make flyers, and we looked pretty much everywhere the cops were,” Showalter said.
There was a very emotional reunion with family.
Blessing’s aunt Vicky Berndette was shaken and relieved after the girl was found.
When she talked to TV6, she thanked the community for standing behind them all day.
“I just want to say thank you for all people who stand behind us. The whole community was here since 6 in the morning until now. “But thank God she was fine,” she said.
“I am happy because she was fine. She’s with us. She’s safe. Thank you.”
TIMELINE
Overnight: Rock Island police said seven vehicles were stolen, more than usual.
6:07 a.m.: Mother reports vehicle stolen with 4-year-old inside from 1300 block of 14½ Street.
6:24 a.m. The mother’s car was found around 6:24 a.m. at 8th Street and 15th Avenue.
9:36 a.m.: Police announced they were searching for a missing girl.
10 a.m.: Rock Island police hold a press conference.
10:08 a.m.: An Amber Alert is pushed by Illinois State Police.
11 a.m.: Police were at Maple Ridge Apartments in Rock Island.
11:30 a.m.: Rock Island schools confirmed to TV6 that Blessing is a Headstart student at Rock Island Academy.
11:35 a.m.: Two people were detained at Maple Ridge Apartments. It is not known if it was connected to the missing girl.
Noon: On Facebook, Rock Island police say misinformation is being spread online, and that Blessing had not been found.
About 2 p.m.: Police were back in Blessing’s neighborhood in the 1300 block of 14½ Street.
About 2 p.m.: Police talked to a neighbor who gave them door-cam video.
2:53 p.m. : Blessing was found safe in an alley near her home.
3 p.m.: Amber Alert is canceled.
7 p.m.: Arrests announced.
EARLIER STORY:
Police said that when the car was found about 20 minutes later the girl and the booster seat were missing.
Police Chief Tim McCloud said they are focusing on finding a white, two-door coupe Dodge Dart with an Illinois license plate, EG9 2693.
Rock Island police said in a Facebook post that the running vehicle was stolen by an unknown suspect at 6:07 a.m. from the 1300 block of 14½ Street near Longview Park with the girl in the backseat.
Police gave more details about the search during a press conference at about 10 a.m.
McCloud said the mother placed Blessing in a booster seat in the running car and went back to the house to get another child, and when she returned the car was gone.
He said do not blame the mother. “It can happen in seconds.”
A neighbor of Blessing’s family told TV6 she turned over door-cam video to police from that morning.
In a Facebook post with the video, the neighbor, Ashley Madison, wrote:
Police said the car was found around 6:24 a.m. at 8th Street and 15th Avenue, but the girl and the booster seat were not in it.
McCloud said they believe she was taken to another car.
Police tape was set around the home to preserve possible evidence in case the incident becomes more tragic than it already is, McCloud said.
DESCRIPTION: Police said the girl, Blessing Aoci, is Black, around 3 feet tall and 50 pounds, wearing a pink jacket, pink boots and blue pants.
Police were at Maple Ridge Apartments in Rock Island at about 11 a.m.
Two people were detained at about 11:35 a.m. It is not known if it was connected to the missing girl.
Shianne Lafrancois lives at Maple Ridge Apartments, and when she was given a flyer about the missing girl, she recognized her. Lafrancois said at about 7 a.m. she saw a girl who looked like Blessing running outside, but didn’t think it was anything other than a girl playing.
By about 2 p.m., police were back in Blessing’s neighborhood in the 1300 block of 14½ Street.
Blessing is a student in the Rock Island Academy Headstart program, according to a Rock Island-Milan schools representative.
Police said all available resources are being dedicated to finding the missing child, including assistance from surrounding agencies, door-to-door canvassing, searching using drones with heat sensors, and using security cameras and license plate readers.
Assisting the Rock Island police are the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office, the Moline Police Department, Illinois State Police, the U.S. Marshals and the Quad Cities Missing Person Network.
McCloud cautioned against the general public forming search parties.
McCloud said there were seven vehicles reported stolen overnight, more than usual. They do not know if any of these vehicles would have been used in the kidnapping.
The vehicle they are focusing the most on is the white Dodge Dart.
The Dart was stolen out of Rock Island, but it was last seen in East Moline at 1:17 a.m.
Other vehicles the police said were stolen were:
A tan Chevrolet Malibu – Iowa plate MMU635
A gray Nissan Rogue – Virginia plate UEV4867
A black Kia Sportage – Iowa plate OIZ261
Anyone with information is asked to call Rock Island police or Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities.
Rock Island: 309-732-2677
Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities: 309-762-9500
During the 10 a.m. press conference, Amber Alert notifications sounded from everyone’s phones in the room — hours after she was reported missing.
McCloud said local police work with the Illinois State Police before an alert is sent. Some criteria that need to be met before the state police push a notification.
In Illinois:
- Police have to confirm it is an abduction.
- The child must be younger than 16.
- Police believe the child is in danger of injury or death.
- Police have a description.
This is a developing story. KWQC-TV6 will provide updates on-air and online.
Copyright 2025 KWQC. All rights reserved.
In a shocking turn of events, 5 individuals have been arrested in connection to the abduction of a 4-year-old girl in Rock Island. The young girl was reported missing earlier this week, sparking a frantic search by law enforcement and community members.
Details surrounding the abduction are still emerging, but authorities have confirmed that the 5 suspects are currently in custody and are being questioned about their involvement in the crime. The young girl was found unharmed and has been reunited with her family.
This harrowing incident serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and community cooperation in keeping our children safe. We must all remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to authorities.
Our thoughts are with the young girl and her family during this difficult time, and we are grateful for the swift action of law enforcement in bringing her home safely.
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- Rock Island abduction case
- Arrests in abduction case
- Rock Island kidnapping news
- 4-year-old girl abducted
- Child abduction arrests
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