Overview

• Full name: Daphne Viola Webb
• Age at disappearance: 21 months (1 year old)
• Date of birth: October 10, 2011
• Date reported missing: July 10, 2013
• Last reported location: Outside Gazzali’s Supermarket, 7838 International Boulevard, East Oakland
• City: Oakland
• County: Alameda County
• State: California
• Classification: Endangered missing child; initially investigated as a possible nonfamily abduction
• Current status: Missing; disappearance remains unresolved
• Investigating agency: Oakland Police Department
• Official police case number: 13035011
• NCMEC case number: 1219197
• NCIC number: M291468267

Main circumstances: Daphne’s father, John Anthony Webb, reported that his daughter disappeared from his Ford Expedition while he briefly entered a supermarket. He said Daphne had been left with her 87-year-old grandmother, who suffered from dementia. Although police initially investigated a possible stranger abduction, attention later turned toward her father. No publicly established finding has resolved the disappearance.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Daphne Viola Webb: The Unsolved 2013 Disappearance of a Toddler in Oakland, California

On July 10, 2013, 21-month-old Daphne Viola Webb was reported missing from a parked vehicle outside a supermarket in East Oakland, California. Her father told police that someone had taken his daughter while he was inside the store, leaving her with her elderly grandmother.

The report triggered an AMBER Alert, extensive searches, and an investigation that eventually focused heavily on Daphne’s father. Yet investigators never publicly established exactly what happened to the little girl.

More than 13 years later, Daphne remains missing. Her disappearance is one of Oakland’s enduring unsolved missing-child cases, marked by conflicting possibilities, unanswered questions, and a family left without definitive answers.

Case Summary

• Full name: Daphne Viola Webb
• Age at disappearance: 21 months (1 year old)
• Date of birth: October 10, 2011
• Date reported missing: July 10, 2013
• Last reported location: Outside Gazzali’s Supermarket, 7838 International Boulevard, East Oakland
• City: Oakland
• County: Alameda County
• State: California
• Classification: Endangered missing child; initially investigated as a possible nonfamily abduction
• Current status: Missing; disappearance remains unresolved
• Investigating agency: Oakland Police Department
• Official police case number: 13035011
• NCMEC case number: 1219197
• NCIC number: M291468267

Main circumstances: Daphne’s father, John Anthony Webb, reported that his daughter disappeared from his Ford Expedition while he briefly entered a supermarket. He said Daphne had been left with her 87-year-old grandmother, who suffered from dementia. Although police initially investigated a possible stranger abduction, attention later turned toward her father. No publicly established finding has resolved the disappearance.

Background: Who Was Daphne Viola Webb?

Daphne Viola Webb was born on October 10, 2011. She was just 21 months old when she disappeared from Oakland, a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay.

At the time, Daphne lived with her father, John Anthony Webb, and her paternal grandmother in the Greenridge Drive area of Oakland. Her mother lived separately.

Daphne was described as a Black toddler with brown eyes and dark hair. She stood approximately 2 feet tall and weighed about 30 pounds. One identifying physical characteristic was a deformity affecting her left ear.

On the day she disappeared, Daphne was reportedly wearing orange two-piece pajamas decorated with pink hearts and pink socks.

These details became important to the investigation as police distributed photographs and descriptions in the hope that someone would recognize her.

The Morning of July 10, 2013

According to the account her father provided to police, John Anthony Webb stopped at Gazzali’s Supermarket at 7838 International Boulevard, near 79th Avenue in East Oakland, shortly before Daphne was reported missing.

Webb said he had gone inside to purchase a drink, leaving Daphne in the back seat of his black 2002 Ford Expedition. His 87-year-old mother, who reportedly suffered from dementia, remained inside the vehicle.

At approximately 11:05 a.m., Webb called 911 to report that Daphne had been kidnapped.

He told authorities that when he returned to the SUV, his daughter was gone.

The father’s account became the starting point for the investigation. However, it is important to distinguish what Webb reported from what investigators independently established. The available public record does not conclusively establish that an abduction occurred at the supermarket.

The Reported Possible Abductor

During the initial investigation, police received information about a woman seen walking in the area with a young child.

The woman was described as Black or Hispanic, approximately in her thirties, with long, straight black hair. She reportedly wore a light-colored shirt and blue jeans.

Witnesses described seeing a woman carrying a child who resembled Daphne.

However, the distinction is significant: the witnesses were not reported to have actually seen Daphne being removed from the Ford Expedition.

The sighting was investigated as a potential lead, not confirmed proof of an abduction.

Despite searches and public appeals, investigators did not publicly establish that the unidentified woman was responsible for Daphne’s disappearance.

Investigation History and Evidence

July 10–11, 2013: AMBER Alert and Emergency Searches

Daphne’s disappearance prompted an extensive response by the Oakland Police Department, with assistance from the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.

An AMBER Alert was issued, and officers began searching for the toddler.

Investigators examined the area around the supermarket and pursued possible sightings. Police also searched locations connected to Daphne and her father.

On July 11, authorities searched the Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline near Doolittle Drive and Swan Way. Investigators considered the location relevant because Daphne’s father reportedly took her there frequently.

Officers also distributed approximately 200 missing-person flyers near the supermarket.

Despite these efforts, the searches did not produce a publicly confirmed discovery of Daphne or establish her whereabouts.

July 10–12, 2013: Her Father’s Arrest and Release

The investigation quickly became more complicated when authorities arrested John Anthony Webb on suspicion of felony child endangerment.

The allegation arose from his reported decision to leave Daphne inside the SUV with his elderly mother, whose dementia raised questions about her ability to supervise the child.

Webb was held at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California.

On July 12, 2013, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office declined to file criminal charges against him at that time, pending further investigation.

He was released.

This distinction matters: Webb’s arrest concerned suspected child endangerment. It was not a conviction, and the decision not to file charges did not establish what happened to Daphne.

Investigators Focus on John Anthony Webb

As the investigation continued, authorities increasingly examined Webb’s account of his daughter’s disappearance.

Police investigated whether the reported kidnapping had occurred as described and considered the possibility that Daphne had disappeared under different circumstances.

Webb maintained publicly that he had not been involved in his daughter’s disappearance.

Investigators also located and questioned Daphne’s mother. Available case summaries report that she was ruled out as a suspect.

By mid-July 2013, police had conducted numerous searches, but no confirmed evidence had publicly resolved the case.

Although investigators reportedly viewed Webb as a person of interest, he was never publicly charged with abducting or killing Daphne.

Physical and Forensic Evidence

Public reporting describes extensive searches and investigative activity, but it does not establish the discovery of physical evidence conclusively explaining Daphne’s disappearance.

No publicly verified finding reviewed for this article establishes that investigators recovered Daphne’s remains, identified a confirmed crime scene, or obtained forensic evidence proving that a particular person harmed her.

Likewise, no verified public announcement was located describing a DNA match, investigative genetic genealogy breakthrough, or forensic identification that resolved the case.

The absence of publicly disclosed forensic findings does not necessarily mean investigators collected no evidence. It means the available sources do not support making specific claims about such evidence.

May 2014: The Death of Daphne’s Father

On May 2, 2014, John Anthony Webb was found dead at his Oakland home.

Contemporary reporting stated that authorities did not suspect foul play in his death. Subsequent case summaries describe his death as a suicide involving an overdose of prescription medication.

His death occurred approximately ten months after Daphne disappeared.

According to available case summaries, Webb left no note explaining his actions or providing information about Daphne.

His death complicated the investigation because detectives could no longer question him about his original account or any inconsistencies they wished to examine.

However, his death did not prove that he was responsible for Daphne’s disappearance. It also did not establish that Daphne had died.

July 2014: Investigation Referred to Prosecutors

On July 10, 2014, relatives and community members gathered in East Oakland to mark the first anniversary of Daphne’s disappearance.

The gathering took place near 79th Avenue and International Boulevard, close to where she had been reported missing.

Family members continued to appeal for answers and encouraged the public to remain vigilant about children’s safety.

On July 11, 2014, CBS San Francisco reported that Oakland police had referred their investigation to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.

The referral was an important procedural development, but it was not an announcement of criminal charges.

No prosecution resolving Daphne’s disappearance was established in the reviewed public records.

Theories and Unresolved Questions

Daphne’s disappearance has generated several investigative possibilities. None should be presented as an established explanation without supporting evidence.

Theory One: A Stranger Abduction

The first possibility is that someone removed Daphne from the vehicle while her father was inside the supermarket.

This was the explanation John Anthony Webb initially gave authorities.

The reported sighting of a woman carrying a young child provided investigators with a potential lead.

However, the public record does not establish that the woman was carrying Daphne or that anyone witnessed an actual abduction from the SUV.

The stranger-abduction theory therefore remains unconfirmed.

Theory Two: Her Father Knew More Than He Disclosed

Investigators’ focus on Webb raised the possibility that his account was incomplete or inaccurate.

His role as the person who reported the disappearance, his account of leaving Daphne in the vehicle, and the investigative attention directed toward him became central elements of the case.

However, being considered a person of interest is not the same as being proven responsible for a crime.

Webb was not convicted of any offense connected to Daphne’s disappearance, and no publicly established evidence conclusively identifies him as responsible.

His death in 2014 left additional questions unanswered.

Theory Three: Daphne Died Under Unknown Circumstances

The Charley Project reports that investigators believed Daphne might be deceased.

That assessment is an investigative possibility, not confirmation of her death.

No publicly confirmed recovery of her remains, official death determination, or homicide finding was located in the reviewed material.

For that reason, Daphne must continue to be described as a missing child rather than a confirmed homicide victim.

Questions That Remain Unanswered

Several central questions remain unresolved:

• What happened to Daphne before her father called 911 on July 10, 2013?
• Was she actually taken from the parked Ford Expedition?
• Who was the unidentified woman reportedly seen carrying a child nearby?
• Did any person witness Daphne at a different location that morning?
• What information, if any, did investigators develop that has not been publicly released?
• Could additional witnesses, records, or forensic examinations help clarify what happened?

Without verified answers, assigning responsibility to any individual would be speculative.

Latest Publicly Available Investigative Updates

Age-Progression Image and Continued Missing-Child Listing

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) continues to maintain a missing-child poster for Daphne Webb.

The poster includes an age-progressed image depicting how Daphne might have appeared at approximately 7 years old.

Age progression is a tool used to help the public recognize children who have been missing for extended periods. It is an artist’s estimation, not a verified photograph of the missing person at that age.

As of October 27, 2026, Daphne would be 15 years old.

Her continued inclusion in NCMEC’s missing-child records and California’s missing-person database supports the conclusion that her disappearance remains unresolved.

November 2025: Doe Network Adds Daphne’s Case

On November 9, 2025, the Doe Network recorded Daphne’s case as a new addition to its missing-person database.

Her Doe Network reference is 5417DFCA.

This addition represents an awareness and case-documentation development. It is not evidence of a new sighting, forensic discovery, or investigative breakthrough.

2026: Current Public Status

The California Department of Justice continues to list a missing child under the name “Daphane Webb,” with Daphne’s October 10, 2011 birth date, the Oakland Police Department as the investigating agency, and case number 13035011.

The spelling differs from the name Daphne Viola Webb used by NCMEC and historical news reports. The matching birth date, location, and case details indicate that the state listing concerns the same child.

NCMEC also continues to display her missing-child poster and identifying reference numbers.

No publicly confirmed recent investigative breakthrough was located as of October 27, 2026. Specifically, the reviewed sources did not establish a recent arrest, prosecution, DNA identification, recovery of remains, or resolution of Daphne’s disappearance.

The continued appearance of Daphne’s name in missing-person databases is important for public awareness, but database maintenance should not be mistaken for a new investigative development.

Conclusion: The Search for Daphne Webb Continues

Daphne Viola Webb disappeared on July 10, 2013, when she was not yet two years old.

Her father’s report of a possible kidnapping led to an AMBER Alert, searches across Oakland, FBI involvement, and an investigation that eventually focused heavily on his account.

His death in May 2014 left investigators without the opportunity to question him further. The case was subsequently referred to prosecutors, but no publicly verified outcome has established what happened to Daphne.

Her disappearance remains unresolved.

Daphne would now be a teenager, and her identifying photographs, age-progression image, and case information remain available through national missing-child resources.

Anyone with firsthand knowledge of Daphne’s whereabouts, the events of July 10, 2013, or potentially relevant information is encouraged to contact the Oakland Police Department or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

Even information that seemed insignificant at the time may be worth reporting to investigators. Members of the public should avoid confronting individuals or circulating unsupported accusations.

Daphne Webb deserves to be found, and her family deserves answers.