2 YEAR OLD ABDUCTED

[AussieMark]

Two-year-old abducted: police

Homicide detectives said they believed missing toddler Daniel Thomas had been abducted from the home of his babysitter, who has admitted leaving him alone for three hours last Friday afternoon, when he went missing.

Detective Senior Sergeant Rowland Legg said it was unlikely the sick two-year-old could have wandered from the house in Myrtleford, in north-east Victoria.

Daniel suffers from asthma and was wearing heavy bandages to cover severe eczema when last seen at the house in Standish Street on Friday.

Senior Sergeant Legg said the babysitter had told police she left Daniel for three hours to keep a doctor's appointment in nearby Wangaratta.

"We just think that it's more likely that he's been removed from the house by someone," he said.

"We believe he wasn't in very good health ... and that's one of the aspects that led us to believe it's most likely he hasn't wandered from the house alone."

Police were preparing to take the investigation in what they said was a new direction, after a fifth day of searching Myrtleford and surrounding areas, including the Wangaratta tip.

Senior Sergeant Legg, who also led the investigation into the disappearance and murder of Moe toddler Jaidyn Leskie in 1997, said the search of the tip had been routine.

"The reason we searched the tip was because we believed some of the refuse from Myrtleford went to Wangaratta," he said.

Searchers also used rafts to check the Ovens River, and completed an extended hunt through drains under the city.

"As time increases, our concern becomes more grave," Senior Sergeant Legg said.

"I think it's fair to say that Myrtleford has been fairly comprehensively and thoroughly searched."

He said the investigation had included interviews with people in the street, family, and friends.

Daniel's mother, Donna Thomas, who was in Shepparton when her son vanished, was being interviewed by police in the light of what may be new information.

Senior Sergeant Legg urged anyone who may have seen Daniel leading up to his disappearance or since to contact police.

[GalvestonDuck]

Homicide detectives?

[Rainband]

How sad!!! I have family in Taylor lakes. Melbourne-Victoria