2 charged in case of missing 18-month-old girl
The father of missing toddler Kytana Ancog was charged with second-degree murder, the Honolulu Police Department reported today.
Travis Rodrigues, 40, remained in custody with his bail set at $2 million.
Also in custody, police said, was Scott Michael Carter, 48, who was charged with first-degree hindering prosecution. His bail was set at $1 million.
The 18-month-old girl was last seen Jan. 31 at her father’s Aiea residence. Rodrigues was arrested Saturday in Ko Olina after the girl was reported missing.
Carter was arrested Saturday night originally on suspicion of murder in the second degree It’s unclear exactly what the man’s role was in the matter.
Kytana’s mother, Ashley Ancog, apparently was not feeling well on Jan. 31, and she ended up dropping off the toddler at Rodrigues’ Aiea home.
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An ongoing ongoing HPD investigation found “foul play was involved” in the missing-person case.
Rodrigues, who is also known as Travis Heffelinger and Travis Heffelfinger, is an ex-con with an extensive rap sheet. He served time in federal prison for felony drug and weapon convictions.
Despite his problems, family representatives said Ashley Ancog would not have left her daughter with Rodrigues if she thought he was going to hurt her.
However, Kytana’s grandmother, Lisa Mora, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that she had never heard of or met Rodrigues, and is unsure about the relationship between the two. Mora said her granddaughter’s birth certificate does not list Rodrigues as the father.
Kytana remains missing.
The child’s family issued a statement after the charges were announced:
“On behalf of the Mora and Ancog family we are very grateful to hear that charges were filed today against Mr. Rodrigues and Mr. Carter and that we feel that their bail amounts are adequate. Since Kytana has not yet been located the family is still asking for the public’s help in bringing her home. If anyone has any information at all please call HPD.”
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department in a news release thanked the public for helping to locate Rodrigues after issuing an earlier call for assistance.