CHICAGO — After imploring the public's help in identifying the toddler whose remains were discovered in Garfield Park lagoon last weekend, police say they are investigating two missing persons cases in Indiana and Arkansas.
Chicago Police detectives confirmed Friday night that they had contacted Arkansas authorities about 2-year-old Malik Drummond, who went missing from his father's home in Searcy, Arkansas, in November 2014, according to the local ABC affiliate.
Police are also looking into the case of 2-year-old nephew King Walker, who went missing from Gary, Indiana, with his developmentally disabled aunt Diamond Bynum, 21, on July 25. Authorities believe she was spotted in Hammond in August, according to the NWI Times.
While police told ABC7 Tuesday that nothing linked the missing Gary toddler to the remains found in the lagoon, Area North Detectives told DNAinfo Chicago Friday that the Gary case remained part of the investigation.
Officials in Searcy and Gary could not be reached for comment Saturday.
Chicago Police did not say how many tips they had received from the public, but head spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted Saturday that they were continuing to follow up, in addition to searching the lagoon.
Police were first alerted Sept. 5 when someone called and said they had found a small foot in Garfield Park. After closing the area to conduct a search, officers found a head and other limbs. The lagoon was partially drained as police divers searched for more clues. Police also started going door to door in the neighborhood to solicit information.
"The full weight of the city of Chicago is behind this investigation," said Guglielmi at a Wednesday news conference. "We are going to find who is responsible."
Police urge anyone to call 312-744-8261 or text 74637 with any information on the case.
Below is a forensic sketch of what police believe the toddler looked like:
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