‼️AMBER Alert UPDATE: 3-Year-Old Kehlani Rogers Abducted from Avondale Home; Suspect Tracked to Maricopa, Police Say

‼️AMBER Alert‼️ UPDATE: On February 21, 2026, an Amber Alert was issued after Avondale Police reported that a 3-year-old girl was allegedly abducted from her home near 119th Avenue and West Thomas Road at approximately 11:30 p.m. on February 20. Authorities say the child was taken without permission and believe her life may be in danger.
Kehlani Rogers was last seen wearing pink pajamas before being taken.
Police say 23-year-old Mariana Noriega allegedly removed Kehlani from the residence late Friday night. Authorities previously referred to the suspect as “Merena,” initially describing her as a 30-year-old white woman of short stature with a thin build, brown hair, and hazel eyes. Noriega is now identified as 23 years old.
Surveillance video from a local business later confirmed Noriega was last seen in the City of Maricopa with the child. At that time, Kehlani was wearing purple pajamas with multicolor smiley faces. Noriega was reportedly wearing black and white tank tops with pink fuzzy pants.
“The fact that she was not allowed to be taken, there was no prior conversation, there was no plan. They wake up this morning and Kehlani’s gone and Merena’s gone – this is what leads us to believe that she’s in danger,” said Jaret Redfearn with the Avondale Police Department.
In a statement released just before 6 p.m. on February 21, Avondale Police addressed a photograph circulating on social media that allegedly identifies the suspect. Authorities urged the woman in the image to contact the department to provide a statement, adding that they are currently unable to verify the validity of the photograph.
Police have not released details regarding how the child was taken.
Anyone with information regarding Kehlani Rogers or Mariana Noriega’s whereabouts is urged to contact Avondale Police at 623-333-7000 or Silent Witness at 480-948-6377. A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered.
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ORIGINAL STORY:
On February 20, 2026, authorities began searching for missing 3-year-old Kehlani Rogers who was last seen near 118th Avenue and Edgemont Street in Avondale, Arizona. Police are asking for the public’s help in locating the child and identifying a woman who was last seen with her.
She is described as a Black girl standing approximately 3 feet tall with a thin build, hazel eyes, and brown hair worn in braids. She was last seen wearing pink pajamas.
According to investigators, Kehlani was last seen with a woman identified only as “Merena.” The woman is described as a short white female with a thin build, hazel eyes, and brown hair worn in a ponytail. She was reportedly wearing a white shirt with pink or purple pants at the time.
Anyone with information regarding Kehlani’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Avondale Police Department at (623) 333-7000.

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