BALTIMORE -- Baltimore City police now believe the story given by the father of a missing infant is a "fabrication."
Police spokeswoman Ragina Averella declined to say whether the father, Kenneth Jenkins, is now considered a suspect, saying only that the investigation is continuing. Averalla said the police believe the story is untrue, based on inconsistencies in his story and information uncovered by detectives.
"Based on the information we have, conversations we've had, there were certainly inconsistencies and the original story that was told to detectives, we now believe, ... was fabricated," Averella said.
Just one day after it was issued, authorities canceled the Amber Alert issued for A'Shia Jenkins, (pictured, left), on Tuesday. WBAL-TV 11 NEWS reported that Jenkins is being held by police on a probation violation.
Police officers, homicide detectives, police recruits, search dogs, and city crews have been searching a south Baltimore waste energy incinerator in connection with the missing infant.
Police academy recruits have been brought in to assist the search at the landfill and will sort through the trash by hand. Meanwhile, a mobile police station is at the scene. And at least one truck taking trash to the incinerator has been turned away at the gate.
Jenkins originally told police that he didn't have time to remove A'Shia from an unlicensed cab after he was allegedly robbed by the driver Tuesday morning. His report prompted a statewide broadcast activation of the Amber Alert system to solicit public assistance in the search for the baby.
Police reportedly planned to search a trash container overnight at the Green Willow Manor complex at 915 Pennsylvania Ave., about 12 blocks from the area where the girl was reportedly abducted. But police learned the container had already been emptied and investigators went to the incinerator.
And after searching that trash bin, police reportedly stopped all garbage trucks Tuesday night, looking for any evidence about what might have happened.
Investigators searched the Baltimore Refuse Energy Systems at 1801 Annapolis Road in Baltimore Wednesday, but found no evidence, WBAL-TV 11 NEWS reported. Police said they have no plans to return to the refuse site.
Police went to Jenkins' home on Francis Street in west Baltimore Wednesday but did not find a crime scene, WBAL-TV 11 NEWS reported. A'Shia reportedly stayed with Jenkins the night before her disappearance.
A'Shia's mother does not live with Jenkins, but, sources say, Jenkins was showing favoritism toward A'Shia's twin sister, WBAL-TV 11 NEWS reported.
Jenkins is being held on an unrelated violation of probation from a previous car theft conviction, according to police.
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