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KSL Team CoverageTwo weeks ago, little Destiny Norton was mugging for the camera at her parents' wedding reception. Tonight, she's the missing person behind an all out search.
Destiny's family has been living in their neighborhood since February, and in recent weeks, they've shared some happy times together, but that all changed Sunday night when Destiny disappeared.
Rick and Racheal Norton were married after being together the last ten years. Her mom describes Destiny as the light of their house.
Rachael Norton, Destiny's Mom: "She likes dogs and all animals she loves, she's really a happy little girl and she's outgoing, she loves everybody."
Besides the Norton's recent marriage, they say since moving close to Liberty Park five months ago, life has been much better. Rick is working at the LDS Humanitarian Center and last Saturday was baptized into the LDS Church. They are expecting their third child. And they were planning to visit Rick's family in Texas. He has not seen any of them since moving away when he was 16-years old.
But their priorities are suddenly to find Destiny.
Rick Norton, Father: "I just want to find my kid. I want to thank everybody for helping. Hopefully something turns up."
Rachael Norton, Destiny's Mom: "Even if she goes out in the yard to play, she comes in every five minutes and says, 'I've found a bug or found a leaf,' or anything. She's always checking in, that's why I'm really worried, because she wouldn't do this, ever."
The Nortons are relying on support from family and friends right now, and asking for more volunteers to search and hand out flyers. Today, hundreds of people gathered at Liberty Park then hit the streets with flyers with Destiny's picture and description, and a positive outlook.
Jeannie Hill, Friend: "We will not quit until this little girl comes home. We will be out there searching 24 hours a day until this girl comes home."
Shane Siwik , Volunteer: "Children are returned. We've had several incidents in the state where kids have been found. My own daughter, Elizabeth Smart, the young boy up in Springville. So there's hope."
Several community groups are helping, including one putting information in a database. If you would like to help, volunteers have set up a new meeting place, starting tomorrow at 7 am, 440 East Harvard, which is 1110 South.
As volunteers look for Destiny, police and the FBI have teamed up in their search. They say they have some leads and tips, but nothing that has led them to the missing girl.
Tim Fuhrman, FBI: "We have done an intensive canvas of this neighborhood around here."
But an intensive search has led to few clues. Today, police refocused their search near Destiny's home, combing places where a child could go unnoticed.
Chief Chris Burbank, Salt Lake City Police Dept.: "We are really looking for a missing little girl and so all those possibilities are open to us, abandoned vehicles, abandoned homes."
On Sunday, Destiny vanished without a trace, leaving more questions than answers for police.
Chris Burbank: "I think the frustration now is the lack of information of where she might be, a lack of possible leads and things."
This afternoon, investigators carried out bags of possible evidence from the house where the little girl disappeared. Police are searching for any clues, and so far, there's no evidence of a kidnapping. As time passes, the situation becomes more dire.
Chris Burbank: "Because of her age, the lack of clothing that she had, the heat, there are a bunch of things that have us concerned so we want to find her as fast as we can."
Police have talked to a lot of people, including more than 100 registered sex offenders. Investigators also identified 51-year old Sevkiha Ferhatovic as a person of interest. They interviewed him for several hours yesterday, before he was released.
Chris Burbank: "His ex-wife does live in the neighborhood and again, he was in the area, in his vehicle at the time."
There are no suspects, but police aren't ruling anyone out.
Chris Burbank: "We're not saying anyone is specifically a suspect in this crime, or even if it is a crime. We have a missing little girl at this time and we're focusing on the recovery of this little girl."
There is a 15 thousand dollar reward for information leading to Destiny's return, or an arrest in the case. If you have any information, call Salt Lake City Police.
Friends and family have only been able to speculate what might have happened to Destiny. Child psychiatrists say if she'd had some kind of disagreement with her parents Sunday night, it might have been enough for her to run away.
Dr. P. Brent Petersen, Child Psychiatrist, Valley Mental Health: "Having an argument with a parent could be a pretty big trauma for the day."
Psychiatrists say five-year olds can't fully comprehend risks the same as adults. Her family says the bubbly girl in this home video is probably now scared, looking for help.
