Bridgeport police release age-progression image of girl missing since 2001
Bianca Lebron was 10 years old when she vanished from outside Elias Howe School on Clinton Avenue the morning of Nov. 7, 2001.
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Bridgeport police released a new age-progression photograph in a missing person cold case that's haunted the city for almost 25 years.
Bianca Lebron was 10 years old when she vanished from outside Elias Howe School on Clinton Avenue the morning of Nov. 7, 2001.
On Wednesday, police were joined by Lebron's family as they unveiled an image from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children showing what Lebron might look like now at age 34.
"Bianca Lebron could be the victim of a homicide. She could also be missing and out there and still alive," said Detective Jeffrey Holtz, who called NCMEC "the gold standard" for investigations involving children.
"The goal of this is to trigger any recollection—any memory people may have of Bianca, or what their knowledge may be of what happened to her," explained Tom Veivia, with NCMEC. "There have been demonstrated successes of bringing missing children home years later."
Police said Lebron was last seen getting into a van after telling friends she was going to the mall with an uncle.
Detective Laura Azevedo-Rasuk, the case's current lead investigator, said "persons of interest" have been identified, but she declined to go into detail.
"In the past, we excavated Seaside Park. And just as recently as last year, we excavated a home," Azevedo-Rasuk stated.
She said she also went to Puerto Rico on a tip that Lebron might be there, but DNA testing proved the woman in question wasn't Lebron.
Lebron's loved ones also spoke at the news conference, which occurred in the parking lot across from the former Elias Howe School. Among them was Lebron's niece, who's never even met her.
"My grandma has been broken for the past 24 years without her daughter. Please help bring my family closure," said Nevaeha Cooke, who also pleaded for people to stop spreading false rumors about the case online.
Lebron's mother, Carmelita Torres, told News 12 her daughter was a happy child who loved music and people.
"Been crying every day ever since—every day, every night," Torres said. "I don't wish this on anybody. This is the worst feeling ever in the world—to have somebody take your child from you."
Despite the family's decades of heartbreak, Torres still has hope.
"I'm not going to give up. I'm going to keep on looking for my daughter—fliers, media, whatever it takes to find her. I'm not going to give up," Torres stated.
There is a $62,000 reward for information that closes the case.
Anyone with information can call 203-576-TIPS or reach out to Detective Azevedo-Rasuk at 475-422-3712.
