IMPD: 3-month-old's disappearance not likely 'random act'

5:35 P.M. UPDATE:

A security guard at the South Side Landfill has confirmed that Indianapolis police have been conducting searches at the Southwestside landfill on Saturday.

The guard, who would not identify himself, could not confirm what police were looking for in their search of the landfill at 2561 Kentucky Ave. or whether it was connected to the disappearance of Janna Rivera, a 3-month-old infant who was reporting missing Friday morning.

This story will be updated.

11:30 A.M. SATURDAY, MAY 30, UPDATE: Police say 3-month-old's disappearance not likely 'random act'

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department issued a release Saturday morning saying that they don't believe the disappearance of Janna Rivera is a "random act."

"Our missing persons detectives continue to follow-up on leads on this case, and our detectives do not believe this to be a random act," said Lt. Richard Riddle, a spokesman, in an email. "IMPD officers are following up on all leads and conducting searches for baby Janna based upon information we developed yesterday."

IMPD is asking anyone with information about this case to call 911 or Crime Stoppers of Indiana at (317) 262-TIPS.

INITIAL STORY FRIDAY, MAY 29: Police searching for missing 3-month-old on Northeastside

Indianapolis police have suspended the search for a 3-month-old girl who disappeared from a Northeastside home Friday morning.

They have identified the baby as Janna Rivera, born in February, and the investigation is ongoing. The infant has not been found.

Police were called to a home in the Orchard Valley Farms subdivision in the 4100 block of Candy Apple Boulevard, near 42nd Street and Mitthoeffer Road. The initial 911 call about the missing infant was made by the baby's mother, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officer Rafael Diaz said.

Investigators have questioned the infant's mother and her boyfriend. IMPD officer Chris Wilburn said the boyfriend is considered a person of interest in the case, because he was the last one seen with Janna.

There are no suspects at this time. Diaz said a missing persons unit responded to the scene and is the lead investigative team; however, detectives are working closely with IMPD's homicide division, he said.

Wilburn said police searched the area with dogs, foot patrols and helicopters, after the child was reported missing around 9 a.m.

Divers searched two nearby retention ponds in the subdivision, one of which was as much as 11 feet deep, but they did not find anything.

Police also searched a wooded area across the street from the subdivision. In all, about four square miles were covered near the last known location of the child, but the search yielded nothing, police said Friday.

Specialists from the crime lab are currently processing the scene and investigators are now working the case from a forensics angle, Diaz said.

"(Whether or not another search is executed) depends on if we get any leads or not at this time," Diaz said. "But we haven't received word of any additional search at this time."

Police officers' attempts to communicate with the mother have been slowed by a language barrier, Wilburn said.

When asked early Friday afternoon whether police believe the baby is still alive, Wilburn said, "We've been at this for 2-1/2 hours. With a baby that small, any number of things could happen."

The mother has two other young children, Wilburn said. None of the children are related to the woman's boyfriend.

The two-story home where the infant lives is next door to Genita Jones' house. She said the mother, her two children and boyfriend moved in to the neighborhood just a few weeks ago.

"I'm just really hoping there's a positive end to this," Jones said. "I don't want them to find a dead baby. I'm hoping they find this baby."

Star reporter Madeline Buckley contributed to this story.

Call Star reporter Kristine Guerra at (317) 444-6209. Follow her on Twitter:@kristine_guerra.