Hunt Pressed for Parents of Girl Found Near Restroom at Beach

The county Children’s Services Department on Wednesday sought the public’s assistance in finding the parents of a little girl found three weeks ago near a restroom by the Santa Monica Pier.

The child, who told welfare workers her name is “Jamie,” is about 3 years old, has blonde hair, green eyes, and is in good physical condition, welfare officials say.

A lifeguard called the Santa Monica Police Department about 5 p.m. Feb. 12 after a beach-goer informed him that Jamie had been outside the restroom for a few hours, Sgt. Barney Melekian said.

She was wearing pink shorts, a purple and white shirt and no shoes. She also had an empty photo album and a bag containing keys and a transistor radio, Melekian said.

Jamie was taken to the department’s offices in West Los Angeles for a news conference to seek help in the search for her parents, Steve Mickaelian, a children’s services administrator, said.

As reporters and photographers hovered around Jamie, waiting for a smile or even a word or two, Jamie, clad in a pink dress, white knee socks and pink shoes, played with dolls and colored with crayons.

Jamie doesn’t talk much. But she says “mommy” and “daddy,” and an occasional “I don’t want it” when she is fed vegetables, said a social worker.