LEONIE ASTRA HUTCHINSON - (MISSING ALERT)

LEONIE ASTRA HUTCHINSON

The last-known sighting of baby Leonie was in the NSW Hunter Valley town of Scone in December 2001, when she was 18 months old.

Detective Inspector Tim Seymour, who's in charge of Strike Force Kanuna which is looking into the youngster's disappearance, says, "The worst-case scenario is that Leonie is deceased and the best case is that she's living happily with a loving family." Det Seymour says despite 10 months of "extensive inquiries" around the Hunter Valley and along the NSW Central and North coasts, her whereabouts remain a mystery.

The five-year-old's mum has four other children, three of whom now live with their grandmother Helen Hutchinson. The youngest, a one-year-old girl, lives with her mother. Helen says she only learnt of Leonie's existence in January 2001, by which time Leonie was 18 months old.

If you know where Leonie is, call Hunter Valley police on (02) 6542 1399 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.