Chicago Police Hunt for 12-Year-Old Girl's Killer

Chicago - Chicago Police turned up the heat Monday night in their search for the killer of a 12 year-old girl.

A 50-person team of police and volunteers canvassed the intersection of 63rd and Halsted and a nearby Green Line station during the evening rush hour. Detectives stopped cars and passed out flyers, hoping someone knows who kidnapped and killed Jahmeshia Connor.

The intersection is just blocks from where Connor was found murdered. More than two weeks after her body was found in an Englewood alley, police still do not know who killed her.

Chicago's community policing chief said she hopes this show of force helps ease those fears -- and jogs memories.

"When you see her picture, it may trigger something that maybe they saw her with an individual or saw her at a certain location, or saw her in a certain vehicle," said Chief Tina Skahill.

But the canvassing served another purpose.

Police said not everyone in the Englewood neighborhood is comfortable calling in a tip, even for a crime as terrible as a 12-year-old's murder.

Chicago's director of community policing said this effort sends a message to those skeptics.

"What the flyer does is let the community know that there are people who stand behind them to encourage them to bring forth information," said C.A.P.S. director Phillip Hampton.