The father of a missing Connecticut toddler whose mother was found murdered has been named a suspect in the mother’s death, NBC Connecticut reported Friday.

Jose Morales is already in custody in New Haven on an unrelated matter, as CrimeOnline previously reported.

Christine Holloway, 43, was found dead of blunt force trauma in her Ansonia home on December 2, and 1-year-old Vanessa Morales was missing. An AMBER alert was issued for the missing girl.

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Police earlier said the father has been cooperative with the investigation and did not live at the home with Vanessa and her mother, though he sometimes stayed there. No other information was available about the investigation.

Ansonia Police Lt. Patrick Lynch reportedly said at a news conference last week that Vanessa police believe the toddler girl is with someone who is not a danger to her, but that this person needs to come forward.

“We believe that she is with someone safe, and we want to make it a priority that they understand whatever circumstances that they have received Vanessa, just bring her back to us so we know she’s safe,” Lynch said, according to NBC Connecticut.

Vanessa’s aunt, identified only as Anna, reportedly made a plea for the girl’s return.

“We the family would like to ask for anyone in our communities and beyond us to help bring Vanessa home safely. Anyone with any information on her whereabouts, we beg of you, please contact Ansonia Police Department or call the FBI tip line 203-503-5555. We desperately need anyone that may be with baby Vanessa to keep her safe, unharmed and get her back to us quickly.”

As CrimeOnline previously reported, investigators were in  Hamden, Connecticut, on Thursday, reportedly to follow up on a tip involving a donation bin. Local police were later joined by the State Police Major Crimes Unit. It is unclear at this time if the search yielded anything related to the missing persons of the homicide investigation.

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[Featured image: Vanessa Morales and Christine Holloway/Facebook]