Family pleads for safe return of Calgary girl; Amber Alert remains in effect

CALGARY – Police in Calgary say they aren’t ruling anything out in their search for a missing five-year-old girl whose mother was found dead.

Inspector Don Coleman says that includes the possibility that Taliyah Leigh Marsman was dropped off with someone who has yet to realize the girl is the subject of an Amber Alert.

Coleman says family members became concerned when Taliyah’s mother, Sara Baillie, didn’t show up to work on Monday. When they went to check on her Monday evening, they found the woman’s body and no sign of the child.

An Amber Alert remains in effect Wednesday morning.

Taliyah’s family has issued a tearful plea for her safe return.

“Please return her. Drop her off at an RCMP station, Calgary Police service station or grocery store or gas station — wherever you want. Contact the family. We’ll come and pick her up. There will be no questions asked,” says Scott Hamilton, Sara’s uncle.

“We love her, we miss her, and we want her back.”

Sara’s aunt, Marilynne Hamilton, spoke directly to her grand-niece. “Taliyah, honey, if you’re watching this… love you. Stay strong, honey.”

“Please, if you have Taliyah, please let her come home to her family,” she pleaded.

Scott described Sara as “a beautiful young woman who was single-handedly, pretty much, raising her daughter. We love her and we miss her.”

“Taliyah is a vivacious, wonderful child. Curious. She lives in our hearts when we’re not with her and she’s in our thoughts, also.”

Scott adds Marilynne has recently taught Taliyah to ride a bicycle. “The bicycle sits in our garage waiting for her to come back.”

The family says Taliyah is mature for her age, saying she is taller and acts more like a seven or eight-year-old than a five-year-old.

Inspector Coleman says Taliyah’s father is estranged from her mother and he is co-operating with the investigation. He says the couple had a history of domestic violence, but did not elaborate.

Taliyah is described by police as “mixed-race” with a slim build, brown curly hair and blue eyes.

The mother’s car police initially said may have been connected to the disappearance was found not far from the home.

The Amber Alert, issued in Calgary, and is only in effect in Alberta.

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