The search for a 3-year-old girl abducted from a birthday party in Birmingham Saturday night saw a major break exactly 24 hours after her disappearance when a suspect vehicle was found and a person of interest taken into custody. Birmingham police and Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies about 8 p.m. Sunday descended upon Woodside Condominiums on Shadowood Circle off Roebuck Parkway across from the Cathedral of the Cross. Police officials confirmed the Toyota Sequoia was recovered and the man depicted in surveillance photos released by police was taken into custody.
Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney vanished about 8:30 p.m. Saturday from Tom Brown Village public housing community in Avondale. She was outside with friends when she disappeared. Kamille’s family members flocked to the Center Point scene Sunday night.
“I feel a little better that they got him but the search goes on because Cupcake still isn’t home,'' said her father, 27-year-old Dominic McKinney. “We’re still not stopping. I feel better that they caught him, I do, but until I see that baby, they can catch him all day. We will find her tonight.”
The vehicle was discovered when condominium resident Ricardo McGhee got off work and noticed the SUV parked outside the building. He conferred with a neighbor about whether he also though it looked like the suspect vehicle released by police. Both agreed it was, and their neighbor was the man depicted in the photos released by police. "We both called 911,'' McGhee said. “It wasn’t just me.”
McGhee said they stood watch over the vehicle and police were quickly on the scene. "They drew down on us,'' he said.
Officers took the male suspect and his girlfriend, a black female, into custody. McGhee said the man has only lived there a short time. "I don’t know him personally,'' McGhee said. “But it’s bugging me because i have a child that was just born on Labor Day and he obviously was looking for a child.”
McGhee said he hopes the little girl is quickly found. "I just hurt for the family,'' he said.
Kamille was wearing a pink t-shirt with a Minnie Mouse/leopard print design and leopard print shorts. She had in yellow, white and blue hair bows. Her shoes were found in the parking lot so police believe she is barefoot.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency at 11:45 p.m. issued an emergency Amber Alert.Police on Sunday night released photos of a possible suspect that were taken by surveillance cameras at a nearby convenience store. Also Sunday night, ALEA issued a second Amber Alert with updated suspect information.
Kamille is 3-feet tall and weighs 60 pounds. She has brown eyes and black hair.
Kamille’s father said he received the call about 8:50 p.m. Saturday. “They said my daughter was abducted,’’ he said.
He rushed to the scene and then spent all night searching for her. “I just want my daughter back. I’ll pay anything, I’ll put up anything,’’ McKinney said. “Everybody knows Cupcake and I’ll do anything to bring that baby back home.”
McKinney said he searched abandoned buildings and schools in the area of Tom Brown Village overnight. “I won’t stop,’’ he said. “If anybody sees Cupcake, please bring me my Cupcake back home. She’s got a lot of people who care about her.”
The father of four said he has no idea why someone would take his child. “She’s scared, she’s lonely, she doesn’t know what’s going on,’’ he said. “She’s just a baby. Whatever the situation is, whatever they’ve got going on, it don’t concern her.”
He described his daughter as sweet and lovable. “She’s a good girl,’’ he said. “She’s just a pretty little girl with the prettiest eyes. She ain’t the girl that’s going to get in the car with just anybody.”
McKinney said he gave his first-born daughter her nickname right after she was born. He has since had the word “Cupcake” tattooed on his forearm, as well as the image of a cupcake. “It’s got a red cherry on top,’’ he showed reporters.
Asked what he would say to the person who took his daughter, McKinney said, “It’s sick man. There’s enough going on.”
He said he won’t give up until Kamille is found safe. “We’re going to pray and we’re going to hope for the best,’’ he said. “We’re going to find her if that’s the last thing I don on this earth.”
The mood around Tom Brown Village was somber Sunday morning. Police were again canvassing the area and passing out flyers with Kamille’s photo.
Resident Rinda Williams, who is raising three of her 12 grandchildren, said it’s a heartbreaking situation.
“I’m tough on these kids, I don’t let them get out and run around,’’ Williams said. “I think now they see why I don’t let them go places because people do take children and do things.”
“It hurt me, and it hurt us. We cried all night,’’ Williams said. “We feel like that baby is part of us."
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