Family of missing 9-year-old seeks to reclassify case as kidnapping

In a dramatic development in the disappearance of 9-year-old Heymanut Kasao, her family is pressing Israeli authorities to reclassify her case from "missing person" to "kidnapping," a move that could significantly expand the scope of the investigation.

Heymonot vanished without a trace in February from Safed, a city in northern Israel, where she lived in an immigrant absorption center with her family after arriving from Ethiopia three years earlier. Despite an extensive ten-month search, police have yet to uncover any substantial leads.

During an emotional Knesset hearing last week, disturbing new details emerged about the case. The child's father revealed that his daughter's friend, who claims to have witnessed the disappearance, reported seeing "a man with long sidelocks" lift Hymanut onto his shoulder before fleeing. According to the father's testimony, the same man allegedly attempted to grab the friend, who managed to escape.

Member of Knesset Pnina Tamano-Shata has called for a fresh examination of witness testimonies, urging police to collaborate with social workers and teachers who might better facilitate communication with young witnesses. Committee Chairman Oded Forer condemned the investigation's progress, describing the handling of the case as "scandalous."

While police maintain they've been pursuing the kidnapping angle since the investigation began, they assert there isn't sufficient evidence to formally change the case's classification. The reclassification, if approved, would grant investigators access to additional resources and investigative tools.

Authorities continue to appeal for any information that might help locate the missing girl.