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Missing mom's vehicle recovered after her toddler found abandoned

Posted at 5:55 AM, Jul 31, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-31 08:55:47-04

The vehicle last driven by a mother whose toddler was found abandoned in a Miramar, Florida, parking lot has been recovered about 15 miles away from there.

Leila Cavett, 21, was reported missing after her toddler, Kamdyn, was found wandering by himself on Sunday morning.

Miramar police on Wednesday evening turned over Cavett's disappearance case to the Hollywood Police Department.

Police in Miramar aggressively searched to identify the child by sharing his photograph on social media and with news outlets.

The child's relatives in Jasper, Alabama, about 12 hours away, were alerted on Monday.

Police also circulated photographs of a white Chevy 3500 that Cavett reportedly was last seen driving. The truck was found in the parking lot of a Walmart near Hollywood Boulevard and U.S. 441, ABC affiliate WPLG reported on Wednesday night.

"At this time, the Hollywood Police Department has initiated a missing person investigation and continues their efforts to locate Leila Cavett," Officer Christian Lata, the public information officer with Hollywood Police Department, said in a statement.

Cavett's grandmother traveled from Tennessee and told the station she's concerned her granddaughter has been kidnapped.

"She would've never left her baby, never," Carol Ferdinand said. "That's my granddaughter, I know her."

Kamdyn remains in the custody of a foster family, officials confirmed to ABC News on Thursday.

ChildNet, Florida's department of children services, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Detectives are asking anyone who may have information on this missing person to call the Hollywood Police Department at 954-764-4357 (HELP) or 954-967-4411. Tipsters can email or text to hollywoodpdtips@hollywoodfl.org. Information also can be given to Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477 (TIPS) or at www.browardcrimestoppers.org.