Los Angeles- The Los Angeles Police Department is requesting the assistance of the media to provide the public with the following information to locate a child taken by her father.

On August 16, 2003, at about 3:00 p.m., the child was abducted by her natural father. The family is concerned due to a past history of child abuse.

The child is described as follows: 11 month -old Victoria Faith Blankenship-Carney, female White, auburn hair, brown eyes, approximately 22 inches and 22 pounds. Victoria was last seen wearing red bathing suit bottoms.

The father is 37 year-old Daren Blankenship, a male White, brown hair, brown eyes, 5 feet 7 inches, and 230 pounds. Blankenship was last seen wearing a blue tank top and jean shorts. Blankenship is known to have blond streaks in his hair and has facial hair, such as a goatee or mustache.

The father was last seen in a blue 1994 Mitsubishi van, with California license plate number, 4PSV601.

Photographs of the father and child are available at Media Relations Section located at 150 North Los Angeles Street, Room 626.

Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact Northeast Area Detectives at 213-485-2566. On weekends and during off-hours, contact the 24-hour toll free number at the Detectives Information Desk, 1-877-LAWFULL, 1-877-529-3855.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jack Richter, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.