Maria mystery: No DNA match in cop database

Posted: October 23, 2013 at 9:44 am

The couple who were found with a 4-year-old blonde girl named Maria who's unrelated to them have explained how they obtained custody, telling authorities that a prostitute handed them the girl to care for. NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.

By Carlo Angerer and Henry Austin, NBC News

ATHENS, Greece -- DNA taken from the blonde girl found in a Roma camp last week does not match anyone in Interpol's global database of missing people, officials said.

Authorities asked the international police agency to help identify the youngster, known as Maria, who continues to be cared for in a hospital in Larissa, Greece.

"A comparison of the girl's profile against Interpol's global DNA database has not produced a match," Interpol said in a statement late Tuesday. "All of the organizations 190 member countries are now being encouraged to check her DNA profile against their own national databases, as Greek authorities investigate whether the young girl known as Maria may have been abducted or fallen prey to child traffickers."

Interpol also issued "Blue Notices" for Christos Salis, 39, and Eleftheria Dimopoulou, 40, who claimed to be Maria's parents until DNA tests revealed they were not biologically related.

The FBI is joining the international authorities searching for the parents of the 4-year-old girl now known as "Maria," who was found in a Roma camp. NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.

Magistrates on Monday ordered that the couple be held in custody until they face trial on charges of abduction and procuring false documents.They denied snatching Maria and said her mother handed the girl to them shortly after giving birth.

Blue Notices are issued to collect additional information about a persons identity, location or activities, Interpol said in the statement.

Panagiotis Pardalis, a communications officer atThe Smile of a Childcharitythat is looking after Maria, told NBC News that new information was still coming in, adding to the more than 10,000 tips received since last week.

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Maria mystery: No DNA match in cop database

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