Police release new age-progression photo of girl who vanished from NJ park 4 years ago
BRIDGETON, New Jersey (WPVI) -- Authorities in South Jersey are still searching for a missing girl who vanished from a park four years ago.
On Thursday, police released an age-progression photo of what Dulce Maria Alavez might look like today.
The young girl, then 5 years old, was last seen playing with her younger brother at Bridgeton City Park in Cumberland County on the afternoon of September 16, 2019.
"In the absence of evidence confirming Dulce's demise investigators hold out hope that Dulce is still alive," said Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae and Bridgeton Police Chief Michael Gaimari in a joint statement.
About one month after she disappeared, authorities released a sketch of a man who remains a person of interest.
READ MORE: Sketch released of possible witness in case of Dulce Maria Alavez
On October 15, 2019, nearly a month into the case, police released a composite sketch of a person who may have information on Dulce Maria Alavez's disappearance.
In the years since the girl's disappearance, hundreds of interviews have been conducted and investigators continue to follow up on every tip reported.
SEE ALSO: Mother of Dulce Maria Alavez expresses regret, defies critics one year after child vanished
Bridgeton Police Chief Michael A. Gaimari Sr. says his department is approaching the case with the same vigor and determination as if it were one of their own children missing.
"Sometimes you hear people say, 'Well you know, it's gone by the wayside, or it's gone to the back burner.' It hasn't. Each one of those officers and detectives that are investigating have children and you can't help as a police officer to put yourself in someone else's position if one of your children went missing," said Gaimari.
No arrests have been made in the case.
On the day of her disappearance, Dulce's mother let the children run off to play on the swings at the playground.
Alavez-Perez and her younger sister stayed inside her vehicle while the children played.
She would later find her younger son crying, and Dulce was nowhere to be seen.
The tightly-knit community is determined to find the missing puzzle piece to bring Dulce home.
"It's really hard still have after four years," said Monica Mason of Millville. "I still see her as the five-year-old baby. We're still prayerfully praying she comes back home."
Action News talked with Dulce's mother, Noema Alavez Pérez, on Friday.
She says she appreciates the community's help and says she's not giving up hope.
Alavez Pérez plans to attend a vigil for her daughter on Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at the Bridgeton City Park.
Authorities have released several age-progression photos since the 2019 disappearance.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office through this form at CCPO.TIPS.
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