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XPost: atl.general

Human remains that were found in rural Iowa last week belong to
a 10-year-old girl who has been missing for almost nine months,
authorities said Wednesday.

Breasia Terrell, who would have turned 11 in December, was last
seen alive in the early morning hours of July 10 in her hometown
of Davenport, about 55 miles southeast of Iowa City. She had
spent the night at an apartment belonging to her half-brother's
father, 48-year-old Henry Dinkins, according to police.

A few days later, authorities issued an Amber Alert for Breasia
and named Dinkins a person of interest in her disappearance. The
Federal Bureau of Investigation also announced a reward of up to
$10,000 for information related to the case.

The Amber Alert was cancelled in January after months of no new
information. Then on March 22, local residents discovered
unidentified human remains in a rural area near DeWitt, about 22
miles north of Davenport.

An autopsy was conducted to identify the remains, and the
results were announced Wednesday by Davenport Police Chief Paul
Sikorski.

"We've received confirmation that the remains are those of
Breasia Terrell," Sikorski said at a press conference, his voice
wavering with emotion.

"This news is heartbreaking to both Breasia's family and our
Davenport community," he continued, while fighting back tears.
"Our deepest sympathies and heartfelt prayers are with all of
those who are affected by this tragic loss. As this case turns
from a missing child to a homicide investigation, we know our
community is anxious for information regarding the investigation
and any charges that may be forthcoming."

"We also understand the desire to see the perpetrator of this
crime brought to justice," he added. "However, in order to
maintain the integrity of this investigation, one that's been
going on for some nine months now, nonstop, I'm not able to
comment on any specific investigative details at this time, and
I hope you all will respect that for the integrity of this
investigation."

Investigators have been in "constant contact" with the little
girl's family, speaking with them "almost daily," according to
Sikorski.

"This is a very tragic and emotional time for them, and they
need our community's support," the police chief told reporters,
noting that local social service agencies are providing
counseling to all those impacted.

Breasia's disappearance and death is being jointly investigated
by the Davenport Police Department, the Iowa Department of
Public Safety's Division of Criminal Investigation as well as
the FBI. Although the case is now officially being called a
homicide investigation, Sikorski revealed that investigators
have been treating it as such for the past several months.

"I can tell you, you know, they're affected by this as well,
deeply," he said of the investigators. "You know, it's a 10-year-
old girl."

No arrests have been made in the case so far, and investigators
don't have a timeline for possible charges, according to
Sikorski.

"I want to assure our community that when we are able to share
details on this investigation, we will," he said.

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PHOTO: Davenport Iowa police posted a photo announcing that
Henry E. Dinkins is a person of interest related to the Breasia
Terrell case. (Davenport Police Dept.)
Dinkins, the person of interest, is currently incarcerated on
unrelated charges, according to Sikorski.

Court and jail records show Dinkins has a lengthy criminal
history and is a registered sex offender who was convicted in
1990 of third-degree sexual abuse involving a minor when he was
17. He was most recently jailed in Iowa's Scott County for
allegedly operating under the influence and on charges of
violating the sex offender registration's requirements,
according to the court records.

Dinkins has pleaded not guilty, and a trial is set for May 10,
according to the Des Moines Register.

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/remains-missing-10-old-girl-
172604780.html
 

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