HOUSTON — Texas EquuSearch is temporarily suspending the search for missing 4-year-old Maleah Davis.
The volunteer group says it will continue to work closely with investigators and follow up on credible tips and leads regarding the girl's disappearance.
Maleah's stepfather Derion Vence, who was the last known person to see her alive, is charged with evidence tampering in connection to her disappearance.
RELATED: You ask, we answer: Why was bond reduced for Maleah Davis' stepfather? Will there be more charges?
Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to her whereabouts.
Tim Miller with Texas EquuSearch said that about a year ago, Vence once told his mother-in-law that if he ever killed someone he had places in Rosharon that they will never find the body. Miller said he called Maleah's mother, Brittany Bowens, to confirm the comments, and she said they were true.
Here is the full statement released by EquuSearch:
Texas EquuSearch has put forth a tremendous amount of effort in the search to find little 4 year-old Maleah Davis. We have been working hand-in-hand with law enforcement investigators, and followed-up on a multitude of tips & leads. We have been basically working around the clock in order to find Maleah. We have followed-up on dozens and dozens of tips & leads, but none have been found to be helpful in leading us in the right area to find Maleah. We will now be temporarily suspending the search for Maleah, but we will continue to work closely with investigators, and follow-up on credible tips & leads. Again this is a temporary suspension, until we can obtain more information that will put us in the right area to find Maleah. We want to thank all of the many hard-working investigators on the case, and our volunteer searchers that have worked so hard to find Maleah.
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- What happened to Maleah Davis? The abuse allegations, the evidence and the key players
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