(CNN) -- After finding her mother dead inside their home, police issued an Amber Alert for a 12-year-old Virginia girl who they believe has been kidnapped.Brittany Mae Smith was last seen "several days ago," according to a Roanoke County statement issued Monday. Police launched a search for Jeffrey Scott Easley, 32, described by authorities as a friend of the dead mother.
"Police have said that the young lady is in extreme danger," said Teresa Hamilton Hall, public information director for Roanoke County.
Roanoke County police went to a Salem, Virginia, residence around 9:30 a.m. Monday after being contacted by concerned co-workers of Tina Smith, the girl's mother. They found the 41-year-old woman's body inside, and police said they were investigating the death as a possible homicide.Police soon got information that Brittany Smith's whereabouts were unknown, leading them to issue the statewide alert.
"We found out pretty quickly that (Brittany) had not shown up for school. Nobody seemed to know where she was. We're concerned that her disappearance is going to be, at least a good possibility, it has something to do with the homicide," Roanoke County police Lt. Chuck Mason said, according to CNN affiliate WSET of Lynchburg, Virginia.
Virginia's Amber Alert website noted early Monday evening that Easley's car, a 2000 red Chevrolet SUV, has been found. But authorities are still looking for Tina Smith's vehicle, a silver 2005 Dodge Neon four-door sedan with Virginia license plates.Easley, a 265-pound white male, is 5 feet, 11 inches tall, has brown hair and hazel eyes, the Amber Alert says.
Brittany Smith is 5 feet tall, weighs 100 pounds, and has straight brown hair and brown eyes.
Hall said authorities don't yet have a specific search area, as they are uncertain which direction Easley might be heading or how far he might have gotten. They have asked anyone with information to call 911 or Roanoke County police at 540-777-8641.
