DETROIT (WWJ) -- Optimism is waning in the search for a 13-year-old girl, who disappeared more than two months ago in Detroit.
On Tuesday, a team of area law enforcement is for a second day searching the Rouge River, near Greater Grace Temple on the city's west side, for Na'Ziyah Harris, who was last seen in early January.
Speaking to WWJ's Jon Hewett and other reporters, Detroit Police Chief James White acknowledged that hope is lessening that they will find this child alive.
Why are they searching the Rouge?
"There's something you know, very specific about this area that we want to take off our list, and that's why we're here today," the chief said. "Unfortunately, as time goes on, it does start to look more like a recovery effort. We're prayerful that that's not the case."
There was a heavy police presence in the area of 7 Mile Road and Shiawassee, as the search continued through the afternoon.
"We've got our local, state, federal partners, the Southeast Dive Team all at the table assisting us in the search," White said. We've got our own dive team from Detroit Police Department here, Oakland County Sheriffs are here, Wayne County Sheriffs are here. Just a tremendous partnership and effort, all with the goal of bringing some closure to the family."
Last week, authorities searched a Clinton Township pond, near 14 Mile Road and Gratiot Ave., for the teen.
Chief White did not identify any suspects in the case, as the investigation continues.
"We have a number of people who we are talking to and looking at. I don't want to classify them as persons of interest yet, " White said. "We're very concerned about some of the things that they may know about the case, so we're going to be making sure that we debrief them and talk through everything that they know: When the last time she was seen, who were the last people she was with."
"And the case is ongoing," the chief said. "I mean, they have worked tirelessly on this case; 24 hours. We've got investigators under our Homicide Unit, under our Missing Persons Unit, that have been working tirelessly on this case. So, there's a lot of moving parts to it. There's a lot of information and quite a bit of evidence to go through to make a determination on where she's at, and who's responsible for it."
Harris was wearing a light blue jean shirt, light blue jeans and a pink and white Rugrats coat with a fur collar when she went missing on Tuesday, January 9, in the area of Cornwall and Three Mile Drive in the city's far east side. She was last seen getting off a school bus at that intersection, which is about a quarter-mile from her house, but she never made it home.
The missing girl's father, Murvin Jennings, said he's been out every day searching for his daughter. "I pass out the flyers, I read the comments, I look at this, I look at that...it's just a lot. It's a lot."
Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to this missing child's location.
Anyone with information about Harris' whereabouts is urged to call the DPD's Major Crimes Division at 313-596-2260. To remain 100% anonymous, tipsters can call the Crime Stoppers line at 1-800-Speak Up (1-800-773-2587), or submit information online at this link.