11-year-old disappears from foster home in Homestead. Video shows she went to juice bar
MONDAY MORNING UPDATE: Homestead police say Kanaiya has been found, is safe and back in Florida Department of Children and Families custody.
Kanaiya Smith, 11, walked away from her foster home on Jan. 11 and she hasn’t been seen since.
On Friday, the department released video of Kanaiya walking into the Juice Cafe in Homestead the day she disappeared. She was wearing a long white T-shirt, white socks and a red face covering. She asked to use the phone, according to police.
“We know that from one moment to the next, she was gone,” said Sgt. Fernando Morales, a spokesman for Homestead police.
Earlier this week, the department reached out for help in finding the little girl.
“We believe that she possibly ran away,” Morales said. “There are no signs that she was abducted.”
Police say Kanaiya, who is five feet, one inches tall and weighs 95 pounds, left the home in the 300 block of Northeast 30th Avenue.
The Florida Department of Children and Family Services has custody over Kanaiya.
“Although the Homestead Police Department does not believe that there is foul play involving Kanaiya, we do believe that Kanaiya is possibly with an extended family member or friend,” Morales said.
He added that interfering with custody “is a crime and may result in an arrest.”
A reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to finding her is being offered by Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers.
Anyone with information is asked to call 305-247-1535 or Crime Stoppers at 305-493-TIPS (8477).
This story was originally published January 12, 2021 at 6:31 PM.
