Homicide Detectives Take Over Case Of Missing Toddler; New Photo Released

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies are hoping a new picture will create new leads in the case of missing 22-month-old Dwight Stallings.

Sheriff's homicide detectives are now leading the investigation into the whereabouts of the toddler, according to a press release from the department Friday morning.

His mother, Tanisha Edwards, was arrested last week and has given conflicting reports about Dwight's location. He has not been seen since April 2011.

Her accounts include the baby is with unidentified relatives, with unknown black Muslim women, taken by two unknown men dressed in black and that Dwight died due to an illness at a unknown hospital, according to the sheriff's department.

Edwards was attempting to hide the baby from Child Protective Services last year when efforts were made to remove the child from her custody because of her failed drug tests. She was arrested last week at her mother's Elk Grove home after she appeared to be under the influence.

Although homicide detectives are taking over the case, it continues to be a missing child investigation and not a death investigation, Deputy Jason Ramos said.

Volunteers were meeting with detectives Friday morning at in front of the Burlington Coast Factory on Florin Road in Sacramento to hand out and post flyers with Baby Dwight's picture and information about the case.