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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Family, police search for missing pregnant woman


Figueroa 
 (The Spokesman-Review)
Kathy Matheson Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA – Police searched a park Thursday for any sign of a missing pregnant woman in a case that has turned up few leads since she disappeared 10 days ago.

Authorities had no solid information linking the disappearance of 24-year-old LaToyia Figueroa to the park, but Philadelphia police Sgt. Ron McClane said police recruits, bike patrols and canine officers searched the grounds “just to maybe eliminate that area.”

Figueroa, who is five months pregnant and the mother of a young girl, was last seen July 18 in West Philadelphia. Police received a missing persons report July 21, McClane said.

Authorities have questioned family members, neighbors and the father of Figueroa’s unborn baby, as well as another woman he had been seeing, McClane said. No one is considered a suspect and police are still treating Figueroa as a missing person, McClane said. Her cell phone has gone quiet since the day she was last seen and her bank has not recorded any transactions.

Meanwhile, Figueroa’s father has been working with City Councilman Juan Ramos to generate media interest in the case. On Thursday alone, the pair had appearances scheduled with Fox, MSNBC, Court TV and Telemundo.

Between interviews, Melvin Figueroa, 44, sat in Ramos’ office wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with his daughter’s photo and the word “MISSING.” He described the past few days as a blur. “I barely sleep, I barely eat,” he said.