S.F. Police Continuing Search for 2-Year-Old Daughter of Murder Victim

You may or may not have heard of Arianna Fitts. She's the 2-year-old daughter of Nicole Fitts, a 32-year-old woman found buried in McLaren Park in April, the victim of an apparent homicide.

San Francisco police have been looking for Arianna ever since, and they're still hoping getting the toddler's picture in front of the public will help locate her. So recently, "missing" posters featuring the girl's image have been appearing across the city. I've encountered them in the Mission District on the way to KQED's offices.

Investigators are up against some long odds: The last confirmed sighting of Arianna, relatives have told police, was in February -- weeks before her mother went missing. Police have said Nicole and Arianna Fitts moved around a wide area, including San Francisco, San Mateo, Oakland and Emeryville, Silicon Valley, Santa Cruz, Fresno and various locations in Southern California.

Sgt. Mark Hutchings of the San Francisco Police Department's homicide detail said Monday investigators are still examining evidence obtained while executing search warrants at residences, storage lockers and vehicles outside the city. Police are also awaiting the results of DNA testing conducted on a sheet of plywood that was placed over Nicole Fitts when she was buried.

Despite the possibility of foul play in Arianna's disappearance, Hutchings says he's still hopeful the girl will be found alive. Investigators have theorized that Arianna had been left with caretakers when her mother was killed.

"As of right now, we believe she's still alive," Hutchings said. "Obviously, her mother is dead. We're not sure whether the people who have Arianna are aware that her mother is dead."

Hutchings said that posters have been put up in San Francisco in the hope that they may jog memories.

"What I'd love is for Arianna's image to be plastered everywhere, especially in businesses over in Oakland," Hutchings said. "Total strangers discussing this case can generate a memory that might help us find her."

San Francisco police have asked the public to call 911 immediately if Arianna is spotted. Members of the public who have information on Arianna’s whereabouts or anything related to the homicide of Nicole Fitts are encouraged to contact the SFPD homicide unit at (415) 553-1145, the SFPD Anonymous Tip Line at (415) 575-4444, or text a tip to TIP 411 with SFPD at the beginning of the message.