Earlier story: Police release sketch in search for pair (11/17/05)

Police on Wednesday released a composite sketch of a man they're calling a person of interest in the disappearance of 19-year-old Anquiatte Parker and her 4-year-old cousin, Cermen "C.J." Toney Jr.

Authorities also said they plan to conduct additional air searches.

The pair have been missing since Nov. 6. They were last seen about 1 p.m. in State Park Place.

Illinois State Police Lt. Greg Fernandez said the person in the sketch is the man a witness described as the individual who was seen wiping down Parker's car, a black 1995 Ford Crown Victoria, on the parking lot of a VFW in Collinsville.

He is described as a white male, 5-foot-9, skinny, with a thin mustache and dark hair.

A witness helped police put the composite drawing together, Illinois State Police Capt. Craig Koehler said.

Anyone with information about Parker or C.J. is asked to call the Illinois State Police Parker/Toney Task Force at 346-3701.

Fernandez, along with East St. Louis Police Chief James Mister and FBI Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Bouie, held a news conference Wednesday at state police headquarters in Collinsville.

In an effort to find information in the case, authorities are tracking down the 200 people in State Park Place with outstanding warrants.

"We had 50 officers in the neighborhoods knocking on doors looking for these individuals on the warrant list," Fernandez said.

By press deadline, 10 people had been arrested, but officers were still working the neighborhoods.

East St. Louis businessman Cedric Taylor has put up $2,500 and Gregory Parker, Anquiatte Parker's father, has put up $500 for any information on the pair's whereabouts.

Koehler announced that the state police also can offer reward money. But, he said, the amount paid out would depend on the validity and amount of information they receive pertaining to the case.

Koehler said police do not have information that leads them to believe the missing people have died.

Mister told family members who were present that he wants them to be patient and continue to work together with police to find their loved ones.

Patricia Petersen, an aunt, pleaded with whoever is holding her niece and nephew to let them go.

She called on the community to come together and pray.

"The bigger the number, the more powerful the prayer," Petersen said,

"No one would want anything like this to happen to their children. We're supposed to help one another," she said.

Gregory Parker also thanked law-enforcement officials and the community.

"Someone out there knows something," he said. "We just want the kids home safe. I know in my heart they are alive. I want to embrace them. Whoever has them, please let them go."