THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 15, 1995 TAG: 9508150295
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
Police began a search Monday for a Virginia Beach woman whose year-old daughter was found alone at home, according to police spokesman Lou Thurston.
The woman was identified as 33-year-old Andrea Ferguson.
Thurston said Ferguson's daughter, Kathleen, was found at home in the 1800 block of Haviland Drive in the Ocean Lakes section.
The woman recently had dental work and was on medication, police said.
Ferguson, who is in the Navy, works as an aviation electronics technician at Oceana Naval Air Station.
Her supervisor, 37-year-old Joe Burrell of Virginia Beach, was concerned when he could not contact her Monday morning. He went to her residence, found the child and called police at 7:54 a.m.
``This is completely out of character for her,'' Burrell said. ``She doesn't do anything without her child.''
Anne Marie Broome, a home day-care provider in Virginia Beach who has taken care of Kathleen for about six months, said Ferguson dropped her daughter off every morning between 6:10 and 6:15 ``like clockwork.''
On Monday she never showed up. And Broome became worried.
``She's a very responsible mother,'' Broome said.
Thurston said it appeared the baby had been left alone for some time. She was placed in the care of the Department of Social Services.
Police conducted a search by helicopter Monday afternoon, but Ferguson was not found. They also used dogs to comb the area near the Ferguson residence.
Andrea Ferguson is described as white, 5 feet 6 inches tall and 170 pounds. She has green eyes and shoulder-length blond hair. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Andrea Ferguson was discovered missing after her daughter, Kathleen,
was found alone in their Ocean Lakes home.
KEYWORDS: MISSING PERSONS by CNB