Prosecutor: Police following leads in case of missing toddler
MILFORD — A prosecutor said police are continuing to receive and track tips about the whereabouts of missing Ansonia toddler Vanessa Morales, but none of them have turned out to be fruitful.
Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Howard Stein’s remarks came Friday during a brief pretrial hearing for Jose Morales, the New Haven man accused of killing Vanessa’s mother, Christine Holloway, in Ansonia in December 2019.
Stein told Judge Peter Brown he’s still in the process of providing discovery evidence in the case to Jose Morales’ lawyer, Kevin Smith.
“The substantial bulk of disclosure has been provided by the state,” Stein said. “There is still piecemeal disclosure that occurs on a regular basis, as Attorney Smith is aware, with regard to continuing efforts by law enforcement in locating Vanessa Morales.
“As anonymous tips, tips though the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children are being conveyed to various agencies, extensive efforts are being taken by local law enforcement to run those leads down and they are to this point, of course, all negative,” the prosecutor said.
Stein said he would continue to pass any new evidence along to Jose Morales’ lawyer and that the two would discuss the case before a conference with the judge.
The judge continued the case to Aug. 25.
Morales has been charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence in connection with Holloway’s death. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges.
He also faces two unrelated felony charges of criminal possession of a firearm, to which he has also pleaded not guilty.
Morales was identified early on as a suspect in Holloway’s death.
During an interview with investigators, Morales claimed he was in the Myrtle Avenue home when he saw men running toward the front door, police said. Morales said he was on PCP and was punched in the face and knocked out as he tried to call 911, police said.
While Holloway’s body was found in her Ansonia residence more than a year ago, the couple’s young child, Vanessa Morales, has never been found. Morales has not been charged in connection with the child’s disappearance. His arrest affidavit indicates Morales told police he had nothing to do with
Holloway’s death or his daughter’s disappearance.
Police in Ansonia say they believe the child will be found and continue to search for her, chasing down leads as far away as California.
In January, police released an age-enhanced photo of the girl, who was 15 months old at the time she vanished. A $10,000 reward remains from the FBI to anyone who can lead investigators to Vanessa or who turns her over to police.