Bond set at $1M for father of 2-year-old Wisconsin girl found dead in Minnesota

MILWAUKEE — Noelani Robinson, the 2-year-old Wisconsin girl who was the focus of a nationwide search since March 11, was found dead in Minnesota, Milwaukee police confirmed March 16.

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Update 1:15 p.m. EST, March 17: Dariaz Higgins, the man accused of abducting Noelani Robinson, has had his bond set for $1 million Sunday, WITI reported. Higgins was arrested Wednesday, two days after an Amber Alert was issued for Noelani. Higgens allegedly killed Noelani's mother.

Noelani was found dead with her body wrapped in a blanket on a rural road in Austin, Minnesota. According to WITI, the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office determined Noelani died due to blunt force trauma to the head.

Update 11:45 a.m. EST, March 16: Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said in a Saturday news conference that 2-year-old Noelani Robinson was found dead on the side of a Minnesota highway.

Morales said that around 7 p.m. Friday, a Minnesota man was driving home when he saw something "out of the norm" on the side of the road and called police, WITI-TV reported.

“Off of Highway 218, 15 miles north of Austin, Minnesota ... and just off the shoulder was a blanket. Inside that blanket and wrapped in there was the body of a child we believe is that of Noelani,” Morales said.

The child's body appeared to have been there for "quite some time" Morales said, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported. He said police will know more once an autopsy is performed.

Update 2:30 a.m. EST, March 16: WISN, citing confirmation from two family members and a family spokesman, reported early Saturday that Noelani Robinson had died.

Police have not confirmed the statements made by the family members.

The child’s father, Darlaz Higgins, who is accused of killing her mother and abducting her, was arrested Wednesday afternoon at a Milwaukee motel.

"The suspect is a cold-blooded killer," Milwaukee police Chief Alfonso Morales told WISN.

According to WAOW, Milwaukee police arrested Higgins, 34, Wednesday afternoon. Noelani was not found with her father, and an Amber Alert was issued earlier this week.

On Monday, Higgins allegedly shot Sierra Robinson, 24, and another woman outside a Milwaukee apartment building. Robinson died at the scene, while the other woman was treated at a nearby hospital, WTMJ reported.

Original report:

Police have arrested the Wisconsin man they believe shot and killed the mother of his 2-year-old daughter, but the child was not with him when he was apprehended.

According to WAOW, The Milwaukee Police Department police took Dariaz Higgins, 34, into custody Wednesday afternoon. Noelani Robinson, 2, was not found with the suspect and the Amber Alert issued earlier this week remained in effect.

Police are investigating tips that the child may be in Minnesota or Michigan according to WTMJ-TV.

On Monday, Higgins allegedly shot Sierra Robinson, 24, and another woman outside a Milwaukee apartment building. Robinson died at the scene, while the other woman was treated at a nearby hospital, WTMJ-TV reported.

Investigators said Higgins fled with his and Robinson's daughter, 2-year-old Noelani Robinson, WTMJ reported.

Higgins was wanted on charges of first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree recklessly endangering safety, WISN reported.

If you have information about the case, call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or Milwaukee police at 414-935-7022.

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