FBI releases new photos of missing mom whose toddler was found in South Florida

Federal authorities released new surveillance photographs of a Georgia woman who was reported missing last month after her 2-year-old was found wandering alone at a South Florida apartment complex.

During a news conference Thursday afternoon, FBI Miami Special Agent in Charge George Piro told reporters the agency is aggressively pursuing a large number of leads to find the whereabouts of 21-year-old Leila Cavett, who was reported missing July 26, WSVN reported.

Miramar police officers found her white Chevrolet in the area on July 28.

“Leila’s separation from her son is completely out of character,” Piro told reporters. “Her disappearance is very mysterious.”

The FBI released a photo of Cavett holding her son, Kamdyn Cavett Arnold, at a Cracker Barrel in Vero Beach near Interstate 95 on July 24, WTVJ reported. The FBI also released photos taken the next day in Fort Lauderdale and at a RaceTrac gas station in Hollywood, the television station reported. The FBI also released photos of Cavett exiting and entering a Lexus sedan about 3 p.m., WFOR reported, and a photo of her returning to the RaceTrac station with her son around 10:20 p.m., the television station reported.

Miramar Police received information that Cavett had recently traveled to Florida, and that her last known location was possibly near Hollywood Boulevard and U.S. 441.

Piro said investigators are trying to find anyone Cavett may have been seen with.

“We believe some people who are familiar with the circumstances surrounding Leila’s disappearance remain in our community while some have left the area,” Piro told reporters.

Cavett’s disappearance was featured on a “Dr. Phil” episode that aired Thursday afternoon, the Sun-Sentinel reported. The show included an interview with Cavett’s mother, Tina Kirby, and her brother, Curtis Kirby. Both said they did not know why Cavett traveled to South Florida, the newspaper reported.

Cavett was living in the Atlanta area and spent time with her uncle, Tina Kirby said. A few days before her disappearance, Cavett had listed some belongings for sale on Facebook Marketplace, her mother said on the show.

If you have any information on her whereabouts, call FBI Miami at 1-800-CALL-FBI or go to FBI.gov/tips.

Cox Media Group