JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 4-year-old who went missing after a woman was found dead at a Southside apartment complex Wednesday has been found safe with a family member in Maryland, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced.
An Amber Alert that triggered when the child was reported missing was canceled less than an hour after it was issued, but the boy's father, Norris Dail is still sought.
Police are also looking for the victim's 2000 silver Mitsubishi Galant which has a Maryland Baltimore Ravens vanity license plate, number 1BK9546. There is also a Ravens sticker on one of the windows.
Officers responded to a welfare check about 10:15 a.m. at the L’Esperanza Apartments off University Boulevard, just south of Beach Boulevard, when they found the woman dead.
Homicide detectives have learned that the woman had lived in the apartment complex for the past several months with her 26-year-old boyfriend, Norris Rashi Dail, and his 4-year-old son. Police said the man and boy were last seen leaving the apartment at 10 p.m. Tuesday.
Late Wednesday afternoon, JSO homicide Lt. Steve Gallaher called the case an active homicide investigation and said foul play is suspected in the woman's death.
"(Norris Dail) is listed and missing and we really need to talk to him," Gallaher said. "He's definitely a person of interest because he took the child and he was seen leaving the apartment. But how does he tie in with the physical evidence? That's what we're trying to connect."
UNCUT: Sheriff's Office news briefing on homicide investigation
News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith explained why it took the Florida Department of Law Enforcement several hours to issue an Amber Alert even though the woman's body was found Wednesday morning.
Smith said certain criteria has to be met in order to issue an Amber Alert, which takes time to gather.
"They have to make sure that an abduction did occur and make sure that the child is in danger, believe it's in danger and, of course, under 18 years of age. And also, they need to have the suspect information, the person who may have abducted the child and also a tag and vehicle information," Smith said.
As far as the next step in the investigation, Smith said, detectives will be looking at any surveillance video and speaking to neighbors as well as family members and the 4-year-old boy.
"They have people that work with child protective services that are trained to talk with children of that age. A lot of times, they are set up prior to the interview to make sure they're comfortable and relaxed, maybe have some family members there with him as someone who he may feel comfortable with. They are trained to get that information and talk to him in a certain way," Smith said.
VIDEO: Search continues for Norris Dail
Police ask that anyone with information, knows the whereabouts of Dail or sees the car is asked to call 911 or the Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.
I-TEAM: Dail had history of domestic violence
Police have not released the woman's name, but based on court records in Jacksonville and Maryland, the I-TEAM believes her name is Cynthia Aviles. She filed for custody of the boy in April 2015. The next month, Norris Dail was charged with domestic violence.
Aviles requested a protective order, but it was denied in May and again in July of 2015. Over that summer, the couple was in mediation in the custody case. In August of last year, the couple was given joint custody. That same day, Aviles changed her Facebook status to say she was in a relationship with Dail.
Aviles was given a traffic citation in June 2016 in Duval County while driving the car that police are now seeking.
Smith said the domestic violence issues will most likely come into play during the investigation.
"They'll come back and talk with neighbors who were here at any time during the day and also talking with neighbors who may have witnessed some type of domestic violence or struggle, maybe prior to those days before, just to get an idea of what was going on inside the apartment prior to the homicide," Smith said.
In the couples' case, both injunctions were denied for lack of evidence. But Ellen Siler, the CEO of the Hubbard House, which is a place where women in domestic violence situations can seek help, said often times, the judge hears both sides and tries to make the best call at the time and that, unfortunately, there's only so much a piece of paper can do.
"Normally, there isn't proof in domestic violence cases when you're going for an injunction because too much of what happens, happens in the privacy of the home and often any bruising is where you can't show easily," Siler said. "An injunction for protection can be a valuable tool if the abuser cares about the consequences of their actions. If they are determined to kill you, it's not going to help."
Siler urged anyone in a domestic violence situation to seek help.
"If you're in any relationship that makes you feel bad about yourself, that has you worried about your safety, even if violence hasn't happened yet, that's a relationship you need to examine. Once violence enters into the relationship, if there's not an intervention, that violence is going to be repeated," Siler said.