HAMPTON, Va. (AP/WVEC) - Authorities recovered a car over the weekend linked to a mother and daughter who police believe were kidnapped.
Keir Johnson, 34, and 8-month-old Chloe Johnson were last seen in the 1900 block of Hastings Drive in Hampton two weeks ago. They were in a 2013 black, four-door Kia Optima, with Virginia license plates VAW-2197.
Police recovered that vehicle Sunday morning in the area of Jefferson Ave. and Arch Street in Newport News, but both the mother and daughter are still missing.
Hampton Police Chief Terry Sult said at a press conference Friday that "diligent police work" and new information has upgraded the case to a possible abduction.
The Hampton Police Division is working closely with the Newport News Police Department in this investigation.
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An Amber Alert was issued Thursday evening for Keir and Chloe Johnson.
The new information includes tips from the public and a technology analysis that the chief did not elaborate on.
Sult said the case didn't seem like kidnapping at first. Johnson had a scheduled week off from work, although she planned to stay in the area.
Concerns continued to grow because Johnson usually kept in close contact with family members, talking to them several times a day.
Chloe Johnson is 2'5" tall and weighs 20 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes.
Keir Johnson is is 4'11" tall and weighs 140 pounds. She, too, has black hair, and she has dark eyes.
The Hampton Police Division is encouraging anyone who knows where the mother and daughter are or what happened to them to contact police using a tip line at (757) 727-6505. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call the Crime Line at 1–888-LOCK-U-UP or send an anonymous tip via text message to the Crime Line by texting "HAMPTONPDTIPS" plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES).
