Family of missing Calgary girl Taliyah Leigh Marsman makes tearful plea for 5-year-old's return - Action News
Home WebMail Saturday, November 23, 2024, 10:27 AM | Calgary | -12.0°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
CalgaryVideo

Family of missing Calgary girl Taliyah Leigh Marsman makes tearful plea for 5-year-old's return

Family members of a missing Calgary girl whose mother was found slain issued a tearful plea on Tuesday begging whoever abducted the "vivacious, wonderful" five-year-old to let her go home.

Sara Baillie found dead in Panorama Hills home while Amber Alert issued for her missing daughter

'We love her, we miss her, and we want her back'

8 years ago
Duration 8:43
Family members of missing 5-year-old Calgary girl and her slain mother issue tearful plea

For the latest breaking news, see:Calgary family, police 'devastated' as charges laid in deaths of Taliyah Marsman, mother


Family members of a missing Calgary girl whose mother was found slain issued a tearful plea on Tuesday begging whoever abducted the "vivacious, wonderful" five-year-old to let her go home.

Police foundSaraBailliedeadand her daughter,TaliyahLeighMarsman,missing on Monday night after being calledto ahouse in the northwest Calgary neighbourhood ofPanorama Hillsbyfamily members who were concerned becausethe woman didn't show up for work and didn't answer calls.

"We love her, we missher, and we want her back," Scott Hamilton, the woman's uncle, told Taliyah's abductor ata news conference middayTuesdayas other relativesweptbeside him.

"Drop her off at anRCMPstation, Calgary Police Service station, or grocery store, gas station, wherever you want. Contact the family, we'll come and pick her up. There will be no questions asked," Hamiltonsaid.

Sara Baillie, left, was found dead in the home she was renting in the northwest Calgary neighbourhood of Panorama Hills. Her daughter, Taliyah Leigh Marsman, is missing. (Facebook)

'Stay strong, honey,' aunt urges missing girl

Aprovincewide alert was issued overnight for Taliyah,who is described as mixed-race with a slim build, brown curly hair and blue eyes.

"Taliyah, honey, if you are watching this, welove you. Stay strong, honey,"Baillie's aunt,Marilynne Hamilton, said between sobs.

Scott Hamiltondescribed Taliyahas a "vivacious, wonderful" girlwho had just learned to ride a bike.

Taliyah seems more like a sevenor eight-year-old than five, a family friend said, describing her as"mature" and tall for her age.

Calgary police confirmed earlier in the day that Sara's deathat 1111PanamountBlvd.was being treated as a homicide, although they did not reveal the cause of death.

"Sara was a beautiful young woman who was single-handedly pretty much raising her daughter and we love her and we miss her," Hamilton said of his niece.

Sara Baillie's estranged husband, Colin Marsman, 36, has a 'limited' history of domestic violence, police say, also adding he was co-operating with police. (Facebook)

Police not convinced Taliyah abducted by stranger

There is a "limited" history of domestic violence between Baillie and her estranged husband, ColinMarsman,36,"both reported and unreported,"according toInsp. Don Colemanof the Calgary Police Servicemajor crimessection

He said Marsman was co-operatingwith police.

Asked if he was convincedTaliyahwas taken by a stranger, Coleman said: "No, I am not."

Coleman said there was nosign of forced entry, to his knowledge.

However, Coleman also said police are open to any possibility, including thatTaliyahmight have beendroppedoff with someone who has yet to realizethe girl is the subject of an Amber Alert.

"We're not ruling out anything at this point," hesaid.

Police say the five-year-old girl was taken from this house in Panorama Hills. (Mathieu Simard/Radio Canada)

Estranged father was under peace bond

Marsman, who also goes by the surname Paris, has beenthe subject of conditions ordered in apeace bond since last March, with Baillie named as the complainant.

He was charged with intimidation and unlawful confinement,but that charge waswithdrawn after thepeace bond was ordered.

Colemansaid the last time family members other than her mother had contact with Taliyah was about 10:30 a.m. MT on Sunday.

Although the Amber Alert isprovincewide, he saidthere is no suggestion the child has been taken outside Calgary.

Baillie's vehicle, a white 2016 Ford Fusion, which police initially said may have been connected to Taliyah's disappearance, was found and is being examined by forensic officers.

'I'm really in shock'

OlumuyiwaDada, who owns the home where Baillie was found dead,says she was a good, quiet tenant.

"I'm really feeling down because I only see things like this on the TV.I'm really in shock," he said.

Neighbour Mike KoloffsaysBailliehad justrecently moved into thebasement suite at the house with her daughter.

"I'm shocked. We had cursory information yesterday that she was missing. At first I thought, well it's Stampede week, and you know, everything that goes on in Stampede week," he said.

"But then, waking up this morning and looking at some online news stating that she'd been found dead in the home and the daughter is missing is a complete shock. My wife is completely distraught. She's at work now,but she was in tears, hearing about this."

Anyone with information is urged to contact the police or Crime Stoppers.

Taliyah Leigh Marsman, 5, was taken from the house in Panorama Hills in northwest Calgary. (Google )

With files from The Canadian Press