Police seek information on missing mother and daughter.
Police are looking for Helen Gavaghan, 33, in connection with an alleged parental abduction involving her six-year-old daughter from Manchester, England. Toronto police believe the pair were recently in the Parkdale area. (Sept. 2, 2010)
Photo/TORONTO POLICE SERVICE
Police in Toronto and Manchester, England are appealing for the public's help for information pertaining to the whereabouts of a six-year-old girl reportedly removed without consent from Britain by her mother on Dec. 9, 2008.Authorities believe Pearl Rose Gavaghan Da Massa and her mother, Helen Gavaghan, may be in Toronto. The child's parents, Hollywood Henry Da Massa and Gavaghan, have joint custody and shared residence orders. The family is from Manchester, England.England's High Court has determined Pearl's removal from that country was unlawful. The child was set to begin primary school in January 2009 and was subject to a hospital referral.Police allege Gavaghan withdrew a large amount of cash, changed her name by deed poll, and obtained a passport in the new name of Meta International.She then reportedly flew to Cancun, Mexico on Dec. 9, 2008 under a new identity with her daughter.The mother and child are believed to have stayed at various places in Mexico crossing into Texas on Dec. 30, 2008.Investigators allege as of Feb. 2010, Gavaghan had been living in Toronto for about a year under the name Dana Flaherty. Pearl had been given the name Belle Flaherty.They believe Gavaghan and her daughter were staying at a Parkdale-area address and that she was offering child care services and was involved in home-schooling groups.Toronto police attended that address but the mother and child were no where to be found. They may have since started travelling again.As recently as June, authorities believe Pearl was spotted in Parkdale.Helen Gavaghan is described as 5'5" with a very thin build, a prominent angular nose, and wide ears. She has green/brown eyes and had long black hair, which she may have since cut short or dyed. Pearl Rose Gavaghan Da Massa is at least 3'7" and of normal build with green/brown eyes. She was last seen with light-brown, shoulder-length hair.Further information can be found at www.missingkids.co.uk, www.ontario.childfind.ca, and www.missingpearl.org.Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5930, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).