CA DAPHNE WEBB: Missing from Oakland, CA - 10 July 2013 - Age 21 months

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Daphne was last seen in Oakland, California on July 10, 2013. Her father, John "Anthony" Webb, called 911 at 11:05 a.m. and said she'd been kidnapped out of his black 2002 Ford Expedition SUV, which was parked in front of Gazzali’s Supermarket in the 1400 block of 79th Avenue. He stated she was taken from the right rear passenger seat.

He said he went into the supermarket to buy a drink, leaving Daphne in the car with his 87-year-old mother, who suffers from dementia. When Anthony returned, Daphne was gone.

Authorities initially treated Daphne's case as a non-family abduction and described a possible suspect as an black or Hispanic woman in her thirties, who had long, straight black hair and wore a light-colored shirt and blue jeans. Witnesses saw this woman walking away from the vicinity carrying a girl matching Daphne's description, but no one actually saw anyone take Daphne from the vehicle. An extensive search of the area turned up no sign of the child or the suspect.

Daphne lived with her father and grandmother in the 800 block of Greenridge Drive, off Keller Avenue, at the time of her disappearance; her mother lived elsewhere. Her mother was located, questioned and ruled out as a suspect.

Later on the day Daphne was reported missing, Anthony was arrested for felony child endangerment for leaving her in the car with his disabled mother. The district attorney declined to press charges against him, however, and he was released after two days in custody.

In May 2014, ten months after his daughter's disappearance, Anthony died by suicide at the home he'd shared with her. He took an overdose of prescription medication and didn't leave a note or any other explanation for his actions.

Authorities view Daphne's father as a person of interest in her disappearance, but even before his death the investigation into her case was stymied by lack of evidence. Investigators believe Daphne may be deceased. Her case remains unsolved.

Charley Project - Daphne Viola Webb – The Charley Project

NCMEC - Have you seen this child? Daphne Webb
NamUs - Missing Person / NamUs #MP26511
Doe Network - https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/software/mp-main.html?id=5417DFCA

Daphne's father said he left her sitting in a parked vehicle with her grandmother in the Gazzali's Supermarket's parking lot. Later her father called the police and said she was kidnapped. Exhaustive searches produced no sign of the child.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Oakland police dig up backyard in latest effort to find Daphne Webb, missing for 13 years

It was the latest failed attempt to find Daphne Webb, whose father reported she was kidnapped, then died by suicide the following year.

www.pressdemocrat.com

Oakland police dig up backyard in latest effort to find Daphne Webb, missing for 13 years​

Home was owned by girl's father, who died by suicide one year after reporting her disappearance​

In the latest attempt to solve the disappearance 13 years ago of Daphne Webb, police here dug up a backyard that was once owned by Daphne’s father, who died of suicide within a year of reporting the then-1-year-old had been mysteriously abducted.

Police found nothing of value during the late January dig, as they continue to investigate leads in Daphne’s July 10, 2013 disappearance. Daphne’s father, John Webb, reported that he left her in a vehicle with his then-87-year-old mother — who suffered from dementia — while going into a convenience store near on 79th Avenue and International Boulevard, then returned to find the little girl was gone.

Authorities questioned Webb’s story and arrested him on suspicion of child endangerment, but he was released a day later. Family members, including Daphne’s grandfather, publicly doubted he was telling the truth. Investigators attempted to interview the 87-year-old woman, but confirmed her dementia diagnosis and said that she couldn’t offer them any useful information.

Webb died of suicide in May 2014, with his version of events still under investigation, according to police. Authorities pressed on nonetheless, determined that they’d find the answers.

“We are going to solve this case; it’s just a matter of time,” an Oakland police spokeswoman said in August 2013, according to media reports. Since then, police have tried one investigative lead after another, but produced no answers.

Investigators have looked for her in numerous locations around the East Bay, including the Oakland airport, the Webb family home and in a water search operation along the Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline.

This latest search focused on a home on the 2700 block of 75th Avenue, where Webb had lived. It was prompted by the current resident, who learned about Daphne’s disappearance and became convinced that a pile of rocks and bricks in the backyard was suspicious and a possible indication of a secret grave, authorities said.

Homicide investigators dug up the pile but, like with the other searches, found nothing that could lead to a resolution of the mystery.

Daphne was 22 months old when she was reported missing; if she’s still alive, she will turn 15 in October.

In the aftermath of her disappearance, police offered a reward of up to $20,000, which generated no definitive leads. A website, findbabydaphne.com, was used to generate tips but has since lapsed. Daphne’s name appears with those of hundreds of other missing people on the California Attorney General’s website, but her description, photograph, height and weight are all consistent with how she appeared at the time of her disappearance, along with the tip that she was wearing orange two piece pajamas with pink hearts, pink socks at the time.

Anyone with information about the case can call the Oakland Police Department missing persons unit at 510-238-3641.

If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, round-the-clock support, information and resources for help. Call or text the lifeline at 988, or see the 988lifeline.org website, where chat is available.