HARTFORD, Conn. – A woman found stabbed to death in a Meriden apartment was identified Friday as one of two people police were seeking in what they had believed was the abduction of a 1-year-old girl.
The state's first Amber Alert (search) was issued Friday morning when police thought the stabbing victim was the mother of the girl, and the baby could not be found.
But the victim was identified Friday afternoon as Faye Bennett, 20, a woman who was being sought for questioning in the baby's disappearance.
Meriden police identified 18-year-old David Wayne Bell as a suspect in Bennett's killing and issued arrest warrants charging him with unrelated crimes. They said he is believed to be traveling with Jennifer Helmedach, 20, and her child, 1-year-old Ayanna.
The couple's car was found abandoned in another state Friday, police said.
The Amber Alert, issued because Meriden police believed the child had been abducted, was canceled.
"In light of new information that has surfaced in the investigation, this incident may not be as originally classified," Trooper Donna Tadiello said.
Bennett's body was found inside a second-floor apartment on Mosher Street at about 8:40 p.m. Thursday. She had been stabbed several times, said Meriden police Sgt. Lenny Caponigro.
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