The distraught mother of missing six-year-old Kiesha Abrahams has begged people to "stop judging me" as investigations continue into the child's movements over the past three weeks.
Kristi Abrahams says she last saw her daughter when she tucked her into bed about 9.30pm (AEST) on Saturday at her Mount Druitt home in western Sydney.
The next morning, Kiesha's bed was empty and the front door was ajar, although there was no sign of a forced entry.
An important part of the investigation includes finding out whether anyone outside her immediate family saw Kiesha since July 7, Detective Inspector Russell Oxford of the NSW Police homicide squad has said.
Her mother on Wednesday told Seven News her "happy" and "funny" daughter, who loved animals and macaroni and cheese, was "with me" over the past three weeks and it was unfair to question Kiesha's whereabouts.
"They need to stop judging me, they don't know me," a visibly distressed Ms Abrahams said.
Police on Wednesday stepped up the hunt for Kiesha as the investigation into her disappearance moved into its fourth day.
An expanded team of 115 searchers, including police, Rural Fire Service (RFS) and State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers, spent the day trawling bushland two kilometres from Kiesha's Woodstock Avenue home.
They also canvassed homes in the neighbourhood.
Police say Kiesha's grandmother last saw her on July 7, when the little girl visited her newborn brother in hospital.
That was the last time anyone, apart from Kiesha's mother and stepfather Robert Smith, is reported to have seen the little girl.
Kiesha's biological father Christopher Weippeart says he's struggling with Kiesha's disappearance.
"I'm expecting the worst and, yeah, hoping for the best," he told Seven.
"I've already prepared for it, you know?"
Kiesha's mother, stepfather and biological father were on Wednesday helping police with their inquiries.
Meanwhile, reports that the family had been in contact with the NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS) are also being investigated by police, who have confirmed Kiesha had been absent from school for the past three weeks.
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally on Wednesday refused to comment on whether Kiesha was known to state welfare authorities, including DoCS.
"I'm not going to comment on what is an ongoing investigation, except to say that this is a very concerning situation," she told journalists on Wednesday.
"This is a family's worst nightmare.
"Right now we are allowing police to get on with their investigations."
Friends and family have described Kiesha as happy, quiet and not given to wandering off.
Ms Abrahams and Mr Smith on Tuesday made an emotional appeal for help to find her.
Police said earlier this week that Kiesha's biological father was not considered a suspect.
Anyone who has seen Kiesha, described as about 140cm tall with blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing pink pyjamas and a purple Pumpkin Patch jacket, should phone Mount Druitt police station on 9675 0000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
today's report
Subject: Stop judging me, says Kiesha's mother 
August 5th 2010, 4:20 am
