* Cards and condolences to the family of Sandra Cantu may be sent to the Tracy Police Department, 1000 Civic Center Drive, Tracy, California, 95376.

* Donations should be sent to the Carole Sund-Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation at 301 Downey Avenue, Modesto, California, 95354, attn. Sandra Cantu. Mar 30 2009 Sandra Cantu, Missing 8-Years Old, Believed still alive

* Apr 11: * Suspect in Sandra Cantu case described as quiet woman who didn't venture out much with her two young children * Family of slain girl says suspect was mother of Sandra's best friend * 4:45 p.m.: Neighbor says Huckaby kept her kids inside * Sandra Cantu likely died before search for her even began * Apr 6: * Missing Tracy girl, Sandra Cantu, found dead in farm pond * Missing Tracy girl, Sandra Cantu, found dead in farm pond * Missing Tracy girl's body found * Apr 4: * Tracy police release video of missing 8-year-old girl * Apr 3: * Abduction survivors take part in vigil for missing Tracy girl, 8 * More than 600 tips received in search for Tracy girl * Apr 2: * Girl who escaped from abductor in San Jose meets with family of missing Tracy girl * Apr 1: * Searchers scour Tracy dump for evidence in case of missing Tracy girl

Mar 28 2009

When Sandra was first declared missing, her mother, Maria Chavez, went on national television to help publicize the search effort. Her father, Daniel Cantu, who lives in Southern California- Mexico, came to Tracy as well and spoke with police and the media.

Mar 30 2009 Sandra Cantu, Missing 8-Years Old, Believed still alive

Police say they have no evidence that missing Tracy girl has been harmed

Anyone with information is asked to call the Tracy Police Department at (209) 831-4550.

Posted: 03/30/2009 04:33:41 PM PDTUpdated: 03/30/2009 05:11:10 PM PDT

The Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation has joined the effort to locate a missing Tracy girl that Tracy Police believe is still alive.

The foundation is offering $5,000, bringing the total reward amount to $7,000, for information leading to the return of Sandra Cantu, 8, who has been missing from the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park since Friday night.

Tracy Police Chief Janet Theissen said at a Monday afternoon press conference that she was very thankful for the foundation's efforts.

"Information from the public is absolutely vital to solving complex cases such as this particular situation," Theissen said. "The rewards the foundation provides have been instrumental in closing many, many cases, and it is our hope the Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation's involvement will help us develop information that will lead us to the safe return of Sandra Cantu."

Scott Webb, the executive director of the foundation, said rewards are often the catalyst for increasing interest and generating investigative leads for cases like Sandra's.

"Rewards not only offer hope to the family, who find themselves in this desperate situation, but they also provide a crucial element in the cases of missing persons, bringing home loved ones," Webb said.

Federal, state and local law enforcement, along with the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and hundreds of volunteers from throughout the area have searched north Tracy on foot and usingall-terrain vehicles, horses and helicopters to find the Jacobsen Elementary School second-grader.

Tracy Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman said they have received more than 150 tips so far, with investigators believing that a handful of them are credible.

"We have no evidence to indicate she's been harmed and is not alive," Sheneman said. "So it is our belief that she's alive and unharmed."

Cadaver dogs picked up a scent Sunday morning along a river north of Tracy, Sheneman said. Divers searched the water while others searched along the water line. He said there was no sign anyone had been there and nothing was found.

Police continue to question residents and search vehicles at Orchard Estates where Sandra was last seen at 4 p.m. Friday. They have expanded the search area beyond the girl's neighborhood and are concentrating on the area between 11th Street and Interstate 580, Sheneman said.

He said they've also questioned all the registered sex offenders in the area.

Unfortunately, many of the volunteers who were able to help search for the missing girl over the weekend returned to work Monday morning, leaving only 20 to 30 people available on Monday.

Sandra is 4 feet tall with brown hair and brown eyes and weighs 45 pounds. She was last seen wearing a Hello Kitty T-shirt and a striped dress.

The foundation is named after Carole and Juli Sund and Silvina Pelosso, three sightseers who were missing and later found murdered near Yosemite National Park in February of 1999. While they were missing, Carole Sund's parents, Francis and Carole Carrington, at the request of the FBI, posted rewards both for their safe return and for information leading to the whereabouts of their rental car. The Carringtons believe that the posting of these rewards and the media attention they received helped lead to the first break in the case.

By Mike Martinez

Bay Area News Group

Mar 31 2009 Searchers scour City Dump for missing Sandra Cantu

TRACY — Volunteers and police are searching a Tracy waste facility for evidence in the case of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu, missing since Friday.

Police, who said they will be at the site all week, called the search routine and said it is just part of the larger investigation.

Police Sgt. Luis Mejia said police haven't received any tips or other information that the girl is not alive.

"All we're doing is looking for any information that may be relevant," Mejia said Wednesday. "We're having the volunteers sift through the trash for any information that may pertain to the case."

At the site, bulldozers and other machinery brought loads of trash into a covered loading area. There, about a dozen volunteers sifted through paper plates caked with food scraps, empty cereal boxes, yard clippings and various other refuse from stuffed animals to a jungle-camouflage jacket.

"I just wanted to help," said Mike Maciel, a city councilman who is retired from the Tracy Police Department. He said they were primarily looking for clothing Sandra was last seen wearing, which could possibly indicate that she had been kidnapped.

The facility is about seven miles south of the Orchard Estates Mobile Home park, where Sandra lives with her mother and other relatives and where she was last seen at about 4 p.m. Friday. Police have received more than 500 tips.

Surrounded by media at morning and afternoon news conferences Wednesday, they released few details.

Tracy police Lt. Jeremy Watney said police have been told that Sandra had talked about running away. He said it would be unusual for a child her age to be gone this long. They are also looking at a man who once kissed Cantu. Watney said police, who were notified at the time, are examining the outcome of that report.

Watney also took questions about Sandra's father, Daniel Cantu, who does not live with his daughter. There have been reports that he had been at the trailer park recently and talked about going to Mexico. Watney said investigators have been talking to him and that he made an unexpected visit to the police station Wednesday morning.

"He was just coming to find out about his daughter," Watney said.

Nicholle Stevenson, a friend, said the focus should not be on Daniel Cantu.

"He's here, he's looking for her," Stevenson said. She said he is from Tracy and only recently moved to Mexico.

Watney said investigators, including the FBI, have not given up.

"It's actually ramping up," he said about the search.

Meanwhile, those who know Sandra are trying to cope with the uncertainty.

School district spokeswoman Jessica Cardoza said school officials have been working with police, who wanted to talk to some of the second-grader's classmates. The district sent out a recorded phone message to parents about the girl's disappearance last weekend, and a letter was sent home Monday.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Sandra and her family, and we hope she is found safe very soon," the letter states.

A number of parents have called school psychologists seeking advice about helping their children deal with the traumatic experience, Cardoza said.

Students at Jacobsen have written letters and made cards and posters wishing for Sandra's safe return.

By Eric Louie and Sophia KazmiSan Joaquin Herald

Apr 1 2009 Sandra Cantu's father takes polygraph test

Updated: Saturday, April 1, 2009 6:36 AM PDT

Daniel Cantu, a 37-year-old who lives in Mexico but works at a meat plant in the U.S. two hours east of San Diego, said that he will stay in the area as long as it takes to help find his daughter.

Cantu said that he felt like he was treated with no respect, and more like a suspect by the media than like a grieving and worried-sick parent looking for his child.

Since his arrival in Tracy on Sunday, he has been to the police station four times, he said. Tracy police spokesman Jeremy Watney said Cantu was scheduled to go into the station Friday to get the latest update from police about his daughter. When he was there, Watney said, detectives would take the chance to ask him questions if they had any.

Cantu said that he has been passing out fliers and getting the word out however he can. His daughter Sandra, 8, disappeared March 27 from the Orchard Home Mobile Home Park Estates where she lives with her mother and other family. A massive search effort has so far turned up lots of leads, but no girl or arrests.

Finally, the father of missing 8-year-old Sandra Cantu passed a polygraph test at the Tracy police department on Friday.

“They were talking wrong,” Cantu said. “People should have the right information before they talk.”

“We need to take the focus off of him and put it on (Sandra),” said Gina Schnabel, a friend of Cantu’s and a volunteer in the search.

By Jennifer Wadsworth and Justin LaffertyTracy Press Staff Writer

Apr 2 2009 Over 600 tips received in search for Sandra cantu

Associated PressPosted: 04/02/2009 06:37:45 AM PDTUpdated: 04/02/2009 06:37:47 AM PDT

Tips continue to come in as the search for missing eight-year-old Sandra Cantu continues.

Tracy police say they've received more than 600 tips since Sandra was first reported missing last Friday.

More reward money is being offered as well, with the reward offered by Tracy Crime Stoppers and the Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation for the girl's safe return now more than $22,000.

Meanwhile, police say they will send a T-shirt recovered in a waste facility out for further testing.

Searchers had thought the pink "Hello Kitty'' shirt was the one Sandra was wearing when she disappeared, but her mother says it's not the same T-shirt.

Crews are expected to continue searching trash in the waste facility through Saturday.

Apr 3 2009 Search Continues with helicopters for Sandra Cantu

California Highway Patrol helicopter circled Old River north of Tracy as part of in an ongoing search for the girl Sanfra Cantu.

It’s the third time searchers have conducted an aerial sweep of the city, said Watney.

Watney said police had “nothing to give us any indication that we’re going to find anything,” but that they were merely making use of the helicopter when investigators had the chance, since it can cover much more ground

Police have also focused on the town's registered sex offenders.

The state says 78 registered sex offenders call Tracy home. And Tracy police have their eye on as many as 60 people in the city who they have found to exchange child pornography over the Internet, police said.

How many of one group are counted among the other is unclear. But investigators said their histories landed the two sets under the microscope in light of the girl’s disappearance last week.

Though police have yet to name any suspects in the case, Watney said that peoples’ criminal backgrounds are, of course, seriously considered and in some cases merit extra scrutiny.

In the case of a documented sex offender, that normally means they’re subjected to several more interviews and searches than would the average person, police said.

Apr 4 2009 Seems Sandra Cantu's shirt found at city dump

Joani Hughes, the Lawless' daughter, told ABCNews.com today that all the media attention directed both at them and the church has exhausted her parents.

Her father has been the pastor of the Clove Road Baptist Church for about 30 years, she said, and their great-granddaughter was one of Sandra's playmates. Hughes said Sandra's death has been very hard on her parents and that they feel "devastated" for her family.

As for the church involvement, Hughes said they are taking it in stride and will do anything police ask. They want the killer to be brought to justice as much as anyone, she said.

"They're saddened that the church is needing to be searched, but they're completely open to whatever the police need to do," she said.

Sheneman said there are have been reports circulated that a suitcase had been stolen from a home in the trailer park, apparently circulated by local news media based on an interview with neighbors.

"We have been unable to verify that anyone has lost any luggage," he said

"No one person is being focused on," he said. "We're still considering many people."

Sandra's family could not be reached for comment today.

Sheneman told ABC News Tuesday that police believe they are closing in on a suspect in Sandra's death.

"It's not as big a mystery as it was," before, said Sheneman to ABCNews.com, "and we believe we're getting significantly closer."

Today, Sheneman wouldn't comment how police were tipped off to a possible connection with the church or what they found only saying the search was based on information learned as part of the investigation.

Apr 9 2009 A Melissa Huckabee claims her suitcase stolen day sandra disappeared

According to a story in the Tracy Press, a church Sunday school teacher Melissa Huckaby said someone took her suitcase the day the 8-year-old disappeared.

The story in the Tracy Press said 28-year-old Melissa Huckaby said the suitcase was "waterproof, charcoal-trimmed and has an Eddie Bauer logo on the front." The story said, "Police have yet to confirm whether it's the same one found Monday morning that contained Sandra's dead body."

In other comments, Tracy police spokesman Sgt. Tony Sheneman said, "The family has asked us to remind you that in lieu of memorial placement, you can make donation to reward or family's benefit fund."

He also said, "Tracy CrimeStoppers has up to $32,000 in reward money for persons responsible for Sandra Cantu's death."

A local resident says he saw a man "acting real strange" at an irrigation pond three days before eight-year-old Sandra Cantu's body was found in a suitcase pulled from the water.

After the gruesome discovery, Stephen Memory says he spoke to the FBI about what he saw.

The 19-year-old Memory reported that he thought it was odd to see a beige Chevrolet Silverado truck parked on the shoulder of the road facing in the wrong direction on the afternoon of April 3. Sandra's body was found April 6.

Memory says the driver — a white man in his late 40s or early 50s wearing a white baseball cap and dark T-shirt — appeared to be looking down at the ditch beside the road, which is not well-traveled.

Police had no comment.

Apr 10 2009

The Fry Memorial Chapel in Tracy has opened its doors to mourners who can sign a condolence book and leave mementos in honor of Sandra.

Manuela Caragoza brought her young children to pay last respects. One of her daughters reminds her of Sandra. "They way they described her as lovable, hugging. It's…it's scary," said Manuela.

The thought that Sandra's killer is still out there is frightening to many Tracy residents, especially children.

"Because what if 'he' were to take one of us…(crying)," Manuela's daughter Stephanie choked out before breaking into tears.

The memorial will continue into the weekend before wrapping up on Monday.

As for the investigation, police searching for Sandra's killer say their investigation has been side-tracked by a slew misleading tips.

Tracy police say they have gotten thousands of tips in the search for the person who killed 8-year-old Sandra, but they say they've been frustrated by several time-wasting leads.

One of those false leads popped up yesterday when someone left an envelop outside the mobile home park where Sandra lived addressed "To My Killer, From Sandra".

Police say it had nothing to do with her death, or the investigation. Following bogus leads wastes the time of more than 25 city officers assigned to the case but detectives say any leads, false or not, are difficult to ignore. They have to check out everything.

Meantime, Sandra's family is planning for her memorial. Tracy police say the family of Sandra Cantu has set a public service for Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at Tracy's Merrill F. West High School.

The service will be held in the school's gym, which holds about 2,500 people. Overflow seating will be available in the school's cafeteria.

Sandra Cantu likely died before search for her even began

Apr 11 2009 Sunday school teaccher is arrested for murder of Sandra Cantu

Melissa Huckaby, 28, is being held without bail at San Joaquin County jail on suspicion of kidnapping and killing Sandra. She is expected to be arraigned Tuesday in San Joaquin County Superior Court.

Tracy Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman said inconsistencies in comments the woman made to investigators as well to the media prompted an arrest.

Tracy Police said the Jacobson Elementary School second grader — who was good friends with Huckaby's 5-year-old daughter — was dead before her mother called 911 at 8 p.m. March 27 to report her missing.

"From information gathered, Sandra was killed not too long after she went missing," Sheneman said early Saturday morning, adding that there are no other suspects in the case.

Investigators said Huckaby drove herself to the Tracy police station Friday night and underwent nearly six hours of questioning. When they snapped the handcuffs on her and placed her under arrest just before midnight, she cried, they said.

"She revealed enough information that we had probable cause to arrest her for both kidnapping and murder," Sheneman said.

Sheneman added that Huckaby initially took the charges hard.

"She became very emotional," he said. "Then she became relaxed again, then became resigned to what was happening."

Huckaby is a Sunday school teacher in Tracy, a northern California town of about 78,000 people about 60 miles east of San Francisco. She lives in the same trailer park where Sandra disappeared and is the granddaughter of a local pastor whose Clover Road Baptist Church was the scene of a very intense police search last week.

Huckaby was already scheduled to appear in court April 17 to check in with a county mental health program as part of a three-year probation sentence for petty theft.

Barbara Sokoloski, the family's neighbor in the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park, told ABCNews.com Tuesday that everyone there is "devastated."

Sandra, along with other neighborhood children, would often visit her home to get homework help or play games with her son's girlfriend. Sokoloski said she bought Sandra the Hello Kitty shirt for her birthday a few weeks earlier.

"She just liked to visit with people," Sokoloski said. "She was an innocent, sweet girl."

Sandra Cantu's family was "holding up as best they can," the girl's aunt said earlier this week.

"We want to find out what happened to our little girl," the aunt, Angie Chavez, told "Good Morning America" Thursday. "She did have a full life ahead of her. She was full of life."

Last month, Angie Chavez described the little girl as "bright, bubbly and friendly," who loved Hannah Montana and visiting her friends in the neighborhood.