Search continues for missing Fla. youth

? Whenever Jessica Marie Lunsford went out to play, her father and grandparents trusted her to come home when she was supposed to. But now she’s missing, vanished from her bedroom during the night, and her father fears she has been kidnapped.

Hundreds of police and volunteers turned out Saturday to search for the missing 9-year-old, and a $25,000 reward was posted.

Jessica, who lives with her father and his parents, has not been seen since Wednesday night, when her grandmother tucked her into bed. Mark Lunsford told authorities he was getting ready for work Thursday morning when he realized his daughter’s alarm clock was sounding and she wasn’t there.

Lunsford is convinced his daughter was abducted, but he can’t understand how or why.

Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy told reporters Saturday the girl’s disappearance was not a confirmed abduction, but he said he had not ruled out anything.

Police and about 500 volunteers scoured the girl’s neighborhood and nearby woods before the search was called off for the night because of darkness. Searchers also combed through marshes in western Citrus County, about 60 miles north of Tampa.

Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Hampton, a Homosassa native, and his wife offered a $25,000 reward for Jessica’s return.

“There’s not a whole lot more I can do, but hopefully somebody will speak out,” said Hampton, who is at spring training.

Investigators said they had received more than 150 tips but almost no clues aside from an unlocked door and the disappearance of one of Jessica’s dolls.