Search continues in Gary for missing mentally disabled woman and toddler

Police in Gary, Indiana are expanding the search for a missing 21-year-old mentally disabled woman and her 2-year-old nephew.

They haven't been seen since Saturday.

Nearly 40 Northwest Indiana police officers fanned out across a four square mile section of Gary on Friday, conducting a block by block search for Diamond Bynum and her nephew King Walker.

FOX 32's Dane Placko walked with officers as they went door to door looking for clues.

"We definitely need some help," and officer said.

"If I see anything, I'll definitely give you a call. That's all I can do," a resident responded.

Police are focusing their search on abandoned homes, which unfortunately Gary has by the thousands.

"We're focusing on this particular grid that we've been assigned. We're looking in abandoned homes, checking to see if they're secure. If they're not secure we want to make sure there's nobody inside them," said Detective Roberto Figueroa of the Gary Police Department.

The woman and young child walked out of their family's home on Saturday while Diamond’s mother was taking a nap.

Her father, Eugene Bynum, says Diamond is mentally disabled and needs to take medication every day.

"She has Prader Willi, which is a birth defect that affects her mentally. She's mentally age five to seven," Eugene said.

There have been several sightings of the pair, including at a McDonalds near downtown Gary on Sunday.

"We're hoping there's people out there that are helping them out, giving them water and food,” said Lt. Thomas Pawlik.

Police have been using dogs to try to track the pair's scent, and have also searched by air using thermal imaging cameras.

They plan to continue the search through the weekend and are asking for the public's help.

"If they want to help come look, they can come down here to the command post located at Gary Fire Station number 9. There's a signup sheet, we'll put you with a team," Pawlik said.

Family members are praying they'll be home soon.

"It's horrible. We're scared for them. But there is hope," Eugene said.