iradiophilly | News - $30,000 Reward for Saavni Venna still missing in Upper Merion; Details are scarce from DA for reason

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$30,000 Reward for Saavni Venna still missing in Upper Merion; Details are scarce from DA for reason

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 10/25/12 1:25 am | updated: 10/25/12 1:25 am

UPDATE 10/25 3pm: They have just raised the reward to $50,000.

A $30,000 reward is now being offered for information leading to the safe return of 10-month-old Saavni Vanna. The little baby girl has been missing since Monday morning. She was last seen between 8 am and 1pm at the Marquis Apartments at 251 West Dekalb Pike in King of Prussia. Saavni is described as an Asian-Indian female, weighing 21 pounds, 30 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes and was wearing a white dress with pink flowers at the time she went missing/was kidnapped.

Saavni has been missing since her paternal grandmother was found murdered in their apartment on Monday. 61-year-old Satyavathi Venna was babysitting the little girl at the time. Satyavathi has been visiting the family from her home in India since July and planned to return in January. Saavni's parents, Venkata Venna and Chenchu Punuru, emigrated from India in 2007 and have previously lived in Texas, Michigan and Ohio before moving to their current Upper Merion home in June.

The FBI has now joined the search and abduction investigation. The FBI Special Evidence Response Team flew in their search dogs from Quantico, VA, to assist with the search efforts today. Police have been conducting an intense search and rescue operation looking in the neighborhoods, combing through the wooded areas behind the Marquis Apartments, handing out fliers, and interviewing family and neighbors. At this time they still have an unknown subject, unknown vehicle, and unknown motive in the kidnapping.

Since this is an Amber Alert situation, the Upper Merion District Attorney's office has been reluctant to release details about the investigation that might jeopardize the safe return of Saavni Venna. This includes any information about the murder of her grandmother. DA Risa Ferman says that in the interest of Saavni's security and safety, the public interest will have wait for those details, including the recently completed autopsy.

About 200 joined a candlelight vigil at Heuser Park in King of Prussia tonight, all praying for the safe return of an innocent child. Similar vigils were held in Indian communities around the country.

The Citizens' Crime Commission of Delaware Valley, the Upper Merion Township Police Department, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, and the Telugu Association of North America, an Indian group, came together to offer the $30,000 reward for information.

Police are asking anyone with information to call 215-546-TIPS.

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