Police are trying to construct a detailed picture of life in the western Sydney home of missing girl Kiesha Abrahams in the weeks following her half-brother's birth as the desperate search for the six-year-old enters its fourth day.
The officer in charge of Strike Force Jarocin, Detective Inspector Russell Oxford, said the last time anyone outside Kiesha's immediate family remembers seeing her is on or around the birth of her half-brother, Levi Smith, on July 7.
Investigators believe the three weeks following Levi's birth are crucial in figuring out what has happened to Kiesha, who was reported missing by her mother, Kristi Abrahams, on Sunday morning.
"...The grandmother has seen Kiesha around about the 7th or 9th of July, which is probably at least three or so weeks ago," Detective Inspector Oxford told 2UE today.
"It's a bit troubling for us because certainly, while the parents say the child was there on the weekend, it's the lead-up time that's important to us because we need to know what might have caused this to occur.
"Is there something in her life that's occurred where she's come across somebody or has somebody been around the house during that time."
Police and SES volunteers worked through last night door-knocking residents in the Bidwill and Shalvey area after combing nearby bushland.
Detective Inspector Oxford said "mountains of information" came out of the door-knock but time was against investigators.
"We're into day four and the longer it goes obviously the worse it is," he said.
It has emerged that welfare authorities had concerns about Kiesha's health and safety, as well as substance abuse in her family.
Detective Inspector Oxford said police were aware of reports the kindergarten student was admitted to hospital as a toddler with a bite mark inflicted by an adult.
"That is being looked at ... but it's not helping us find the young child," Detective Inspector Oxford said.
He appealed again for members of the public to call police if they had any information about Kiesha's life or current whereabouts.
"Somebody must have seen this young girl," he said.
"You can imagine the grief [her parents are] going through and you'd think that if somebody has some information they've got to come forward and help us."
Ms Abrahams and Kiesha's stepfather, Robert Smith, went back to their Mount Druitt flat last night after spending a few nights at the Bidwill home of Mr Smith's mother, Rebecca Smith.
Mrs Smith said the couple were not coping well under the strain of Kiesha's disappearance.
"If it goes on too much longer we might have to get [Ms Abrahams] to a doctor or something, she's not good," she said.
Anyone with information about the case should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
EARLIER:
THE disappearance of six-year-old Kiesha Abrahams from her Mount Druitt home has raised questions about the actions of welfare authorities, who were previously concerned about her well-being and substance abuse in her family.
Government agencies declined to comment yesterday about their involvement with the family, but questions remain about when the child was last seen by outsiders.
Meanwhile, specialist homicide and sex crime detectives joined the investigation - an ominous sign that hope is fading, although officers were still talking of finding her ''safe and well''.
Kiesha's mother and stepfather appeared at a news conference yesterday, but her mother, Kristi Abrahams, broke down and was unable to speak after appealing for ''anyone that's seen her [to] … please go to the police''.
She wore dark glasses, held a tissue in front of her face, and sobbed hysterically - leading contributors to a Facebook support site to speculate about her reactions.
Her partner, Robert Smith, said the past few days had been ''hell''. ''I can't describe what it's like in my shoes … you can't imagine the last few days. It gets harder by the minute.''
Police said Kiesha had not been to school since her brother, Levi, was born 3½ weeks ago. They also said it appeared the last time anyone other than direct family members had seen Kiesha was the weekend of July 7 and 8, which coincided with Levi's birth.
However, Mr Smith said he had last seen his stepdaughter when they were sitting at home, watching The Golden Compass on Saturday night. The PG-rated film finished at 9.50pm.
Ms Abrahams had told police she put her daughter to bed at 9.30pm and noticed her missing at 10am on Sunday, though she had told a friend she noticed her daughter gone about 9am. The Herald understand Ms Abrahams was unable to be interviewed by investigators on Sunday morning.
Asked if he had any suspicions where Kiesha might be, Mr Smith said: ''I have no idea. If I had any idea we'd be there looking.''
He described her as a ''bubbly girl'' who loved playing with her sister and cousins.
Superintendent Wayne Cox, the commander at Mount Druitt Police, said State Emergency Service volunteers and police were still searching bushland in Bidwill, Shalvey and Whalan Reserve.
Detective Inspector Russell Oxford from the homicide squad said: ''We are now three days into the investigation. We have done an extensive search, we have done an extensive doorknock.''
Police denied reports that an investigation at the family's home had failed to find any clothing belonging to the child.
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