Two weeks after finding Nichelle McKnight's body near the banks of the Stillwater River, Dayton police returned to the waters Thursday to search for her 4-year-old son, who is presumed dead.
Police say Zaden McKnight was murdered along with his mother, Nichelle McKnight, 25, whose body was found April 11 on an embankment near Riverside Drive in Harrison Twp. She died of two gunshot wounds to the head. The search for Zaden's remains had been delayed by weather and high water in the river. But better conditions Thursday allowed boats to resume the search for several hours, Dayton police Chief Richard Biehl said.
Dayton homicide detectives partnered with the Dayton Fire Department, Five Rivers MetroParks, Box 21 Rescue, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio Task Force One, using boats and sonar equipment to comb the river south of the Helena Street bridge. Cadaver dogs were at the ready should remains be located. Biehl said they've received no tips or leads of where Zaden's body may be, but are relying on their own search techniques to map out areas near where McKnight's body was found, and where suspects Antwan Anderson and Tonisha Harris may have had access.
"We have no specific information. We're just trying to follow up now that the weather is clear and the waters have receded," Biehl said.
On Wednesday homicide detectives concluded a weeklong search of about 100 vacant buildings near 23 Birchwood Ave., but did not find anything. That address was the home of Harris, 29, who is a suspect in McKnight's murder but is not facing any direct charges related to her death. Police believe McKnight and Zaden were killed in the basement, and found blood, McKnight's shoes, along with her driver's license, bank cards, and the Social Security cards for the mother and son, according to a court affidavit.
Not knowing where her grandson is and that Harris could have information that may help investigators has been frustrating for Michelle Williams, McKnight's mother. While she wants Harris to help police, she said she has no ill-will for the woman who may have contributed to her daughter's death.
"If this had been months ago, I would have wanted to ring her neck but I thank God for being saved," she said. "I thank God for having a heart and I thank God for being able to show compassion for her."
"I don't hate her but I do have sympathy for her," Williams said of Harris.
Harris allegedly stole money from McKnight at Anderson's direction. Anderson was reportedly in a relationship with both women, and took his own life during a police shootout April 7. He was the main suspect in McKnight's disappearance. Harris remains in the Montgomery County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond.
Police haven't received any tips or leads from the public regarding the location of Zaden's body. A caller who left a message on their anonymous tip-line led investigators to the area where McKnight's body was found. It's Williams' hope that someone will come forward and help police find Zaden so "we can be at peace."
"That's what we need and what we are waiting for," she said.
The tragedy of losing her daughter and grandson to such violence, Williams said, has shown her just how precious they were.
"My daughter was a beautiful woman and when you raise your kid you don't know how they're going to turn out, but I did something good and that outweighs everything," Williams said. "I'm just sorry it took such a tragic moment for me to find out how beautiful my daughter really was."
Anyone with information on the McKnight case can call police using their anonymous tip line at (937) 222-7867.
