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Officers find nothing, call search for missing toddler off

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Several law enforcement agencies spent a couple of hours on Thursday searching a wooded area in Richland County for a toddler who hasn't been seen since Thanksgiving, but the operation yielded no new clues in the case.

"Every day that goes on, every day that passes has us more concerned," said Columbia Police spokesperson Jennifer Timmons.   "Especially since we have not found Amir Jennings yet, but we can't lose hope."

About 100 officers with multiple agencies, including the FBI, State Law Enforcement Division, Richland County Sheriff's Department, Columbia Police Department, and the Columbia-Richland Fire Department looked for 18-month-old Amir Jennings in an 8.5-mile area near a small rural church off of Heyward-Brockington rd. near Monticello rd.

Timmons says investigators received some sort of lead that pointed them to the site.

"Not specifically from Mrs. Jennings, but we've been working this case with the assistance from other law enforcement agencies and we just had some valuable information that pointed us here," said Timmons.

Right in the middle of the search area is a cell phone tower which would have caught a cell signal from Zinah's phone, that police could use to trace her steps.

Searchers used cadaver dogs and left nothing unchecked. But investigators say they haven't given up hope that they'll find Amir Jennings alive.

 "Until we have a definitive answer we can't say one way or the other," said Timmons.

Jennings has been missing since November 24. His mother, Zinah Jennings, has been in jail since Christmas eve, but will not tell authorities where he is.

This week, Zinah Jennings' attorney filed motions asking a judge to reduce her $150,000 bond because of two reasons: she's pregnant, and a judge has deemed her mentally ill.

Zinah is locked up in a Columbia mental health ward undergoing treatment.

Officers called the search off for Amir Jennings around 3:00 p.m. Thursday and said the investigation into where the little boy is will continue.

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