Wandering Toddler Found on Street

(MYFOX NATIONAL) - Indianapolis police are stumped. They want to know who would allow their little toddler out of their sight after a girl was found wandering alone Saturday night around 8 p.m., carrying an ashtray.

Early Monday morning relatives of the little girl came forward after seeing news reports on the girl and detectives have many questions for those family members, reported WXIN-TV .

"I don't know what to say about it. It's pitiful," said a woman in the neighborhood where the girl was found. The woman named Freida, who asked not to be identified further, walked out onto her porch, minutes after the 1-year-old girl known only as Baby Jane, was found on the street in front of her house last night.

"At first I thought he said a baby was missing or 'Have you seen a baby?' Then I said, 'No where is she at?' He said, 'No she's inside the store. She walked down the street by herself.' And I'm like, 'What?'" recalled Frieda.

The people who found Baby Jane, called police from a store after unsuccessfully looking for her parents.

"I just pray everything is all right with the parents and the child. A situation like this seems kind of weird," said another neighbor.

According to one neighbor, the little girl was not noticed on the street until she tripped and fell after seeing a small cat. At that point people found that she was carrying a small ash tray. Police had hoped the ashtray would lead them to the parents.

But fingerprints taken from the ashtray did not find a match in the police system. If the parents are found, they'll likely face charges.

"I think it's pretty obvious in a case like this where 24 hours have passed and the parents have not reported this child missing, that you're probably talking about a neglect situation," said Sgt. Paul Thompson, of the Indianapolis Police.

Reggie McClain lives around the corner from where Baby Jane was found. He said he simply hopes someone who knows her comes forward. With a 1-year-old of his own, he said it's a little hard to understand.

"I've got children and to be without my kids, to have them running up and down the streets, that's crazy," said McClain. "Something isn't right. The parents haven't come forward. Maybe they're scared or whatever. I can understand that, but even if you're scared and you love your child, you have to go see about your baby."

Despite being found outside and alone, the child was in good health and has been placed in state custody.