Police released a sketch showing a man officers want to speak to regarding the disappearance of 5-year-old Dulce Maria Alavez.
Dulce was abducted from a playground at Bridgeton City Park on Sept. 16, officials said in an Amber Alert.
The sketch is the first image released apart from those showing Dulce and her family at a convenience store shortly before the kidnapping.
The sketch showed a man who was being described as a “possible witness.”
The Hispanic man, who was spotted in the park with one or two children under 5 years old, was not being described as a person of interest.
“This composite sketch was developed after a witness who recently came forward was able to provide a description,” the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.
The description was not the same as the one given by a child who said they saw a man with a red van take Dulce.
“We are asking this person (or anyone who may recognize him) to come forward as investigators wish to speak with him as it is believed that he may have information that is helpful in determining the circumstances that led to Dulce’s disappearance,” the statement said.
The man was described as being in his early 30s, standing about 5’7″, with a slender build. He was wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans, and a white baseball cap when he was spotted in the park.
“Anyone who can identify this individual or who has information about the case is asked to contact Bridgeton Police Department at 856-451-0033. The public is reminded that authorities will not question any witness about their immigration status. Information may be supplied anonymously by texting TIP411 subtext Bridgeton,” the prosecutor’s office said.
The reward for information leading to the location of Dulce and/or the circumstances surrounding her disappearance is now up to $52,000.
The FBI, the Bridgeton Police Department, New Jersey State Police, and the prosecutor’s office are still working on finding Dulce, the office said.
