Davenport 10-year-old Breasia Terrell disappeared in July and is still missing. Here's what we know.

The last few months have been the longest of Aishia Lankford’s life.

Lankford, 28, of Davenport last saw her daughter Breasia Terrell on July 9. The 10-year-old was reported missing the next day and hasn’t been seen since. 

That’s more than three months of praying for the girl’s safe return, empty searches and questions – “Where’s Breasia?” and “Why Breasia?” – with no answers. 

It’s “horrific” not knowing where her daughter is, Lankford said. 

"I want her to know what it's been like without her... I miss her. I miss her smell. I miss her smile. I miss everything about her," Lankford said, unable to hold back tears.

"I love that she's a truth-teller — I could use a truth-teller right about now.”

These days, with few answers from detectives regarding Terrell's whereabouts and rampant rumors and allegations swirling against Lankford on social media, she turns to a five-subject notebook to help her push through her saddest days.

The notebook is purple — Terrell's favorite color — and is covered with Terrell's name and photo. In it, Lankford journals her thoughts, feelings, and everything she's done in the search for her daughter. She traces every step, every detail leading up to Terrell's disappearance. 

Lankford also writes letters to Terrell so when she returns home, she can be reminded of the strong, smart, beautiful child she is. 

What we know about the investigation

Terrell spent the night of July 9, a Thursday, with her half-brother and his father, Henry Earl Dinkins, at Dinkins' Davenport apartment in the 2700 block of East 53rd Street. Lankford said Dinkins' girlfriend spent the night there, too.

Lankford says Terrell texted her using Dinkins' phone shortly after 9 p.m. that night to say good night.

Davenport police say Terrell, who is 4 feet 5 inches tall, weighs about 75 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair, was last seen near Dinkins' apartment in the early hours of July 10. She was wearing a white T-shirt, shorts and sandals when she went missing. 

Davenport police believe Dinkins, 47, has information valuable to Terrell's return and have identified him as person of interest in the case. However, Dinkins hasn't been named a suspect or charged in her disappearance.

He was taken into custody on July 10 for violating sex offender registration requirements and parole shortly after police searched his apartment for Terrell. Dinkins remains in jail.

An Amber Alert was issued July 15 in Terrell's case and is still active. Hundreds of volunteers helped law enforcement search for her in the Davenport area and in Clinton County. But with a lack of information that could guide volunteers on where else to search, local authorities say those efforts have largely ended at this time.

More:Breasia Terrell: More questions than answers in the case of missing 10-year-old Davenport girl

Detectives are still following up on every lead and tip that comes their way, Davenport Police Assistant Chief Jeff Bladel said, but there are no public updates to be made on the case.

Bladel stressed they need the community's help in finding Terrell, and encourages anyone with information to contact the Davenport Police Department.

"We're still on mission," Bladel continued. "We want this case active in everybody's hearts."

Police are also asking anyone with information about Dinkins' whereabouts from 10 p.m. on July 9 through noon on July 10 to come forward. And they're seeking information about vehicles associated with Dinkins during that timeframe, including a maroon 2007 Chevrolet Impala, a black 2012 Chevrolet Camaro and a motor home.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation office in Omaha, Nebraska, is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to Terrell's return, which is separate from a $3,500 offered by the Quad Cities Crime Stoppers.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has been assisting Davenport police as well. John Bischoff, vice president of the organization, emphasized that as time goes on, it is more important than ever to highlight Terrell's case in the media, share her photo, and make sure the Davenport community and beyond knows she is still missing.

"Law enforcement, the National Center and the family are working feverishly to (find Terrell safe)," Bischoff said.

"Don't give up hope on Bree just because days, weeks or months have gone by. There's always going to be hope that we will find her safely."

What we know about Henry Earl Dinkins

Dinkins pleaded guilty to third-degree sexual abuse of a minor in 1990, according to the Iowa Department of Corrections.

He currently faces three counts of sex offender registration violations after he allegedly failed to report his residence where Terrell went missing and two of his vehicles to authorities, which is required for registered sex offenders in Iowa. 

Dinkins has pleaded not guilty to all three sex offender registration violations.

The state plans on seeking habitual offender enhanced sentencing for Dinkins based on these new charges and past felony convictions, according to court documents. If convicted as a habitual offender, Dinkins would have to remain in confinement for at least three years.

Dinkins was moved from Scott County Jail to Clinton County Jail on Aug. 28 due to overcrowding, a correctional officer told the Register.

Recently filed court documents show Dinkins is wanted by the state of Illinois after failing to appear in court in April 2019 on drug charges. According to Bureau County, Illinois, online court records, Dinkins is charged with delivery or possession with intent to deliver over 900 grams of methamphetamine and manufacturing and delivering — or the intent to deliver — over 200 grams of amphetamine or an analog of the drug.

He will not be extradited to Illinois until his pending charges in Iowa are settled, court documents indicate.

Dinkins' lawyer, Jack Dusthimer, has not returned the Register's request for comment.

Lankford said Dinkins isn't talking about her daughter's disappearance and refused her recent attempts to visit. She has previously said Dinkins broke down when he saw Terrell's face imprinted on a T-shirt during an earlier visit but denied having information that could help locate her daughter.

Lankford told the Register that Dinkins and she aren’t close, and only see each other every couple of months when Dinkins wants to see his son. Lankford said although she was aware Dinkins was on the sex offender registry, she and her daughter never felt unsafe around him. Terrell had been around Dinkins since she was a baby.

Terrell had never stayed overnight at Dinkins' house before she went missing; Lankford told the Register she allowed it in July because Terrell was having fun with her half-brother and wanted to stay.

Now, she feels her children are unsafe around anyone. 

Lankford still has hope she'll be able to hold her daughter in her arms again, that she'll return home safe.

"Bring Bree home. Bring my baby home."

Andrea Sahouri covers breaking news for the Des Moines Register. She can be contacted at asahouri@registermedia.com, on Twitter @andreamsahouri, or by phone 515-284-8247.

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