The search continues Wednesday for an Altamonte Springs woman and her 7-month-old child.

Investigators on Tuesday went to 21-year-old Jessica Elizabeth McCreery's home on Adelaide Boulevard for a well-being check of 7-month-old Penelope Hogarth.

Police spent hours searching the neighborhood lake, which backs up to the family's home. They said they are not ruling anything out at this time.

“If she is watching this, if you are ok, we know you love your child and your child will remain with you," said Officer Robert Pelton with the Altamonte Springs Police Dept. "But please contact the Altamonte Springs police department and let us know you’re ok.”

Authorities said Child Protective Services visited McCreery's home before, on May 5. Officials received reports the child might be malnourished or neglected. We are trying to find out if there were any prior investigations regarding the baby.
 
“We’ve asked David Hogarth to assist us with that," Pelton said. "However, we are not receiving the information from him that we hope to, which was their location and that they’re okay. We have concerns for their well being. They have been entered into the system as missing and endangered.”

Investigators are considering that McCreery may have run away after that visit from CPS.

McCreery and child were missing when police arrived to the home Tuesday, but a man, later identified as David Hogarth, was uncooperative with investigators.


(PHOTO/Seminole Co. Corrections)

Hogarth, 46, is the child's father, police said. He was arrested around 2 a.m. Wednesday on several charges, including marijuana possession with the intent to sell, child neglect without great bodily harm, possession of a controlled substance without prescription and possession of drug equipment.

“I just saw them pull Christmas size trees of marijuana. They were huge,” said neighbor Xevier Rodriguez.

Hogarth was released late Wednesday morning after posting $6,500 bond. Neither he nor the couple with him had anything to say as they hurriedly got into their car.

We have learned David Hogarth has no prior arrest history in Seminole County.

“You have to work that criminal element that there was foul play, so we don’t overlook anything just like the boat behind us ensuring that there is nothing in that lake behind us but also have to work it as a runaway, where she could have fled with her child,” Pelton said.

A family member said they hope McCreery and the baby are found safe and in good health very soon. They describie the missing mother as “very intelligent” but someone who normally would ask family members for help if she needed it or was in danger. 


(PHOTO/David Bodden, Staff)

"Officers came out here and made contact with what we believe is the father, who would not assist law enforcement and ultimately was taken into custody," Pelton said.

While searching for McCreery and the child, police obtained a search warrant because they believed there was a marijuana grow operation inside the home.

Investigators were seen removing several large plants from the home late Tuesday.

Pelton said the woman and the child "could be in danger" based on what Hogarth told them during the investigation. Altamonte Springs police officials said they plan to search a lake behind the Adelaide Boulevard home Wednesday.

Anyone with information on McCreery's whereabouts is asked to call 911.