Search Continues For Baby Abducted After Murder In Montgomery County

By Brad Segall, Walt Hunter

UPPER MERION, Pa. (CBS) -- Police are continuing their intense manhunt for a baby who was abducted after her grandmother was murdered in Upper Merion Township Monday afternoon.

State Police issued the Amber Child Abduction Alert at about 4:15 p.m. Monday for 10-month-old Saavni Venna, who was last seen between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday at the Marquis Apartments at 251 West Dekalb Pike in King of Prussia.

Police say the murder victim, 61-year-old Satyavathi Venna, was babysitting her granddaughter but have not released any further details regarding the homicide investigation.

However, Upper Merion Police Chief Tom Nolan told reporters, investigators do not believe the public is in danger.

On Tuesday, investigators canvassed the area and handed flyers in an effort to locate the young child.

Saavni is described as an Asian-Indian female, weighing 21 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes and was wearing a white dress with pink flowers.

Police say she was abducted by an unknown suspect. The suspect and vehicle information are unknown at this time.

During a press conference Monday night, Shiva Venna made a tearful plea to the public for the safe return of his daughter.

"If somebody finds my baby, please bring my baby back. Don't do any harm to the baby," he said.

Prosecutors say the parents, Venkata Venna and Chenchu Punuru, emigrated from India in 2007 and moved to King of Prussia in June of this year. They previously lived in Texas, Michigan and Ohio. The grandmother arrived from India in July and was scheduled to return in January.

The FBI has joined the investigation. Anyone with information about the abduction should immediately contact the police by calling 911.

For more information, visit: http://www.amber.state.pa.us/.

Police have not released any further details regarding the homicide investigation.