Police to Update Public on Search for Missing Child

A Farmingdale neighborhood was rocked Friday night by reports that police were digging in the backyard of home for the remains of a missing 3-year-old.

State Police announced last night they would update the public on the case at a morning news conference in Farmingdale. They could provide no further details early Saturday.

State Police Major Patrick Regan told news outlets they were searching for the body of child who has been missing for about a year. The lead in the case came from State Police upstate, Regan said, and the Hallock Street home is one of several locations under scrutiny.

Earlier, an Amber Alert was issued for a missing child belonging to Robert Rodriguez, who lives in the home police were searching, WCBS News reported. Police said Rodriguez took his 9-year-old son from the home after learning of the homicide investigation. Both Rodriguez and the boy were found; the boy was unhurt, WCBS said.

The Amber Alert was canceled Friday shortly after it went out to authorities when the pair were found on Long Island.

It is not clear what connection, if any, Rodriguez had with the missing child.

This is a developing story; Patch will provide updates as they become available.