Arizona Mother Searches for Missing Two-Year-Old Ava Enlow
Arizona mother desperately searches for missing two-year-old.
March 8, 2012— -- An Arizona mother is desperately searching for her two-year-old daughter, who, she says, has been missing since Feb. 22.
Athena Manuma, 22, said she dropped off her daughter, Ava Enlow, with the toddler's father, Brent Anderson, on Feb. 18 and was supposed to pick her up on the 22nd. Anderson, 31, never showed up, and Manuma said she has not seen or heard from him since.
"It was a normal drop-off," Manuma told ABC News. "There were no words, no nothing. Just, 'I'll see you on Wednesday, Ava,' but I didn't get her on Wednesday."
Manuma called Phoenix police, who officially listed Ava as missing. Police are calling the incident a case of "custodial abduction' and have issued an arrest warrant for Anderson, who recently lost his job and is facing financial hardship. His family and friends have been unable to reach him and do not know his intentions with Ava, according to Phoenix police.
"I don't know anything. He did not want me to know anything," Andersons' mother, Melinda Barros, told ABC News. "I know she is fine wherever she is at with my son." Barros said she has not spoken to her son since Feb. 14.
Manuma and Anderson went through years of court disputes before settling on a custody agreement, Barros said. The two have shared custody of Ava.
"He should have never had to go through what he has gone through," Barros said. "It has pushed him to the limit where he has to take off."
During past visits, Anderson took Ava to the park and to see animals, Barros said. He did not tell her what he planned to do with Ava this time. Barros said she believes Ava should be without her mother.
"I think she is better off not here," Barros said. "If you find her and she has to go back to that family, it is not going to be good."
Anderson married on Feb. 11, Barros said. She and Manuma said they speculate that he could be on his honeymoon.
This isn't the first time Manuma and Anderson have had trouble with visits. Last October, Anderson told Manuma he was going on a vacation and she would see Ava a week later, Manuma said.
"I didn't approve it and he hadn't talked about it until the day before," Manuma said. "We went to law enforcement to get her back."
But this time, police have not been able to contact Anderson. Manuma and her friends have created a Facebook page called "Help Bring Ava Home" as well as a website, bringavahome.com. The Facebook page has received more than 1200 "Likes."
"I'm kind of in like a foggy haze," Manuma said. "It seems very surreal. Like this isn't happening. I don't know how to deal with everything."
Manuma calls Ava her "little monkey." She said she loves macaroni and cheese and is a very social, happy toddler.
"She has her own language," Manuma said. "She's Ava, I don't even have a word to describe her. "She's just amazing."
Anderson drives a 2002 dark blue Chevrolet Silverado, police say. He is 5-foot-10 and weighs 235 pounds. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the Phoenix Police Department at 602-534-2121 or phoenix.tips.ppd@phoenix.gov.
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