UPDATE: Wichita Police confirmed that the young girl, 1, who was missing has been found safe.
The baby’s mother died in December, and the grandmother filed for custody. The court granted the request while the child was in someone else’s care.
The grandmother contacted the police to get the custodial order enforced, and when officers were finally able to contact them, the child was handed over to her grandmother.
Officers say the baby was never in danger, and no crimes have been committed.
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ORGINAL STORY:
Police are searching for a one-year-old girl after her grandmother reported her missing. The baby, Blessence Smith, was last seen on Wednesday.
Blessence is the daughter of Lanashia Clay, a 22-year-old woman who died in a car crash on Dec. 14.
The Wichita Police Department says the grandmother is now the baby’s legal guardian. After the grandmother contacted police, officers began checking with other relatives, and police were unable to find any relatives who currently have the baby.
The WPD has issued an “attempt to locate” the child; investigators say they do not believe the child is in danger.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has published Blessence's name and picture on its Kansas Missing Persons website. Blessence is a black female, 2'2" tall, weighing 15 pounds; she has black hair and brown eyes.
Meanwhile, a Wichita man is charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection to a crash that killed Clay, Blessence's mother.
The crash happened in the 1700 block of S. Mosley (south of Washington & Harry) just after 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14; police say a car crashed into multiple trees.
Clay was a passenger in the front seat of the car, and died at the scene. A 25-year-old who was sitting in the back seat was hospitalized in critical condition. The driver of the car was taken to the hospital and later arrested.
Charles Smith, Jr., appeared before a judge Wednesday and was charged with: involuntary manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; aggravated battery, DUI causing great bodily harm/disfigurement; and driving while suspended.
Court records show Smith’s bond is set at $50,000; his next court appearance is Feb. 20.
Clay had been celebrating her 22nd birthday on Dec. 13, on the night before she was killed in the crash.