UPDATE: Springfield police announced in a post on X: “Arukia Ganis was safely located. Frank Ganis and Arisha Caldwell were taken into custody.”
Here is the earlier story:
Springfield police are asking for the public’s help in finding an endangered 2-year-old girl who was in the care of the state of Missouri when apparently taken by her parents during a trip to the Wonders of Wildlife today, April 9.
The girl was with a man and woman that Springfield police describe as her parents.
The man already is facing several 2022 and 2023 felony charges in Stone County, including deviate sexual assault of a child under 15, kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk and unlawful use of a weapon.
According to police, a photo of the three shows them at 11:22 a.m. leaving Bass Pro Shops through what appears to be a door not used by the public. Wonders of Wildlife is connected to Bass Pro Shops.
Arukia Ganis is approximately 30-40 pounds and 2½-to-3 -feet tall with dark brown hair, bangs and pig tails. She was wearing leg braces that can be removed.
She was with Frank S. Ganis, 36, and Arisha Caldwell, 33. A press release from Springfield police does not mention if the trip to Wonders of Wildlife was supervised by any state employee.
Frank Samuel Ganis, according to online court records, is scheduled to appear in court in Stone County on May 13 to set a trial date.
Cris Swaters, spokeswoman for Springfield police, said Ganis is the same person wanted in connection with the missing child.
Ganis has a most recent address on South Broadway Avenue, in Springfield, according to online court records.
The parents might have left in a silver Mercedes SUV with Vermont license plate, HFL245.
Ganis is 190 pounds and 6 feet tall with brown hair and hazel eyes.
Caldwell is 120 pounds and 5-foot-1 with blonde hair and green eyes.
Anyone with information should call 911 or make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477) or online at p3tips.com.
