Watch CBS News

Vigil Held For Missing Toddler In Rockport

ROCKPORT (CBS) - The family of Caleigh Harrison held a vigil for the little girl along the shoreline Friday night, refusing to give up hope after she vanished on Long Beach in Rockport.

Her uncle, David Harrison, spoke for the first time about their exhaustion and desperation for answers after a day and a half of searching by air, water and land failed to turn up any sign of the nearly three-year-old. "I don't want to think she's in the water. I'm thinking she'll show up safe somewhere and I'm going to bring her home," he said.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports

Podcast

Caleigh Anne Harrison
Caleigh Anne Harrison (Photo Credit: Mass. State Police)

Caleigh was playing ball with her mother and sister. Police say the mother turned away no more than two minutes to retrieve the ball that went over a seawall and when she looked back the girl was gone. Friends, neighbors and residents joined the family in prayer holding lit candles, which Harrison called a comfort.

"All I keep hearing in my head is ,'Uncle David, Uncle David'. That's what she would say to me. She's the happiest girl you would ever want to meet," he said.

Choppy seas forced dive teams out of the water again, but they plan to return on Saturday and get in as much time as possible before the expected weekend rain.

While the effort is concentrated on the water, investigators were seen with a flashlight in the garage of a beach home, and Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio says they have not ruled out the possibility of an abduction. "We're going to keep going and going until we have a result, closure or something," said Harrison.

Police still call it a search and rescue effort and say they'll continue to take it one day at a time.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.