The mother of missing schoolgirl Cecilia Zhang delivered a heartwrenching public message to her only child today, telling the girl how much she loved her and how sorry she was for the ordeal she’s endured since her abduction earlier this week.
“Cecilia, I know we are physically apart but my heart has never separated from you, not a moment, not a second,” a weeping Sherry Xu, her husband Raymond Zhang at her side, told a packed news conference at the city’s downtown police headquarters.
“Mommy and Daddy have suffered so much without being with you; I know that you’ve gone through even more.”
Raymond Zhang pleaded with Cecilia’s abductors to safely return his daughter, whom he referred to as “my sweetheart.”
“As a father, I beg you, I beg you, look at Cecilia’s face, look at her eyes － what an innocent and lovely girl she is. Please, please, don’t harm her, let her go.”
The public appearance of Cecilia’s parents marked the first time they’ve faced the media since they discovered their daughter missing on Monday morning.
Sherry Xu went to wake the girl up for school and found her bed empty.
Police have all but ruled out a random abduction by a sexual predator, saying they are instead investigating the case as a possible kidnapping for ransom. Evidence found at the house, including a broken screen window in the rear of the home, suggested a forcible abduction.
Sherry Xu suggested at the news conference that she and her husband have done nothing to put their daughter in harm’s way.
“I am so sorry about what has happened to you, I am so worried about you,” she said. “Mommy and Daddy never hurt anyone and we always treat everyone so well.”
“I believe whoever took you will treat you nice and they will let you get back to me very soon.”
Police have scaled back their ground search in the hunt for the Grade 4 pupil, a gifted student who’s an avid reader and a budding pianist.
The Zhangs were only allowed to return to their home in a quiet neighbourhood in the northeast part of the city last night after police scoured the residence for four days in search of forensic evidence that might shed light on what happened to Cecilia.
Investigators have refused to discuss what may have been found in the house, saying it could threaten the safe return of the girl.
Raymond Zhang said he’s convinced his daughter, an animal-lover with two cats who likes to study science, would be home soon.
“Cecilia, you know how much we care about you. You know how much we love you. Be strong. Mom and Dad will get you back soon. Be strong.”
He’s not alone in his optimism. Sgt. Jim Muscat also said earlier today that police strongly believe that Cecilia is still alive.
“There is nothing to this end to lead us to believe otherwise,” he said. “We believe she is alive, we have reason to believe that; we have no evidence to the contrary.”
As of noon today, police had received about 700 leads since Cecilia disappeared, and Muscat said they were “following each and every one of these tips depending on their priority.”
He added that door-to-door canvassing by police was nearly completed and a search of a two-kilometre radius of the Zhangs’ neighbourhood would continue through at least Friday.
“This is a multifaceted investigation, it’s very complex,” said Muscat. “We are doing everything we can in our power to bring Cecilia back safe and sound to her family.”
（MARLENE HABIB）
