Police in Ludington are putting out a call for help from plant experts in the investigation of the disappearance of a four-month old baby almost two years ago. Police Chief Mark Barnett said they want the experts to analyze plant material found on the shoes of the father of Katherine Phillips, known as Baby Kate, who was taken from her mother’s home on June 29, 2011. The child has never been found. 23-year old Sean Phillips, was found guilty of unlawful imprisonment last April and sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison.

Little Katherine Phillips has been presumed dead by police for months, and now comes a letter from her father that apparently explains how she died in July 2011. Sean Phillips is serving at least ten years behind bars for unlawful imprisonment in the disappearance of "Baby Kate," and authorities are still building a homicide case.

A west Michigan man has been convicted in the disappearance of his infant daughter last summer. After nearly six hours of deliberations over two days, a Mason County jury on Friday found Sean Phillips guilty of unlawful imprisonment. Prosecutors say the 21-year old Victory Township man kidnapped then-four-month old Katherine Phillips from her mother’s home in Ludington on June 29, 2011 and has since refused to tell anyone where she is. Phillips faces a maximum of up to 15 years in prison. No sentencing date has been set.

Charges of parental kidnapping and custodial interference have been dropped against a West Michigan man in the disappearance of his four-month old daughter last summer. 21-year old Sean Phillips of Mason County's Victory Township was accused of taking Katherine Phillips from her mother’s home in Ludington on June 29, 2011. Phillips is still facing a charge of unlawful imprisonment and will go to trial on April 16th. (MRN)

The trial for a West Michigan man accused of abducting his missing baby daughter has been rescheduled for April 16. 21-year old Sean Phillips of Mason County's Victory Township faces charges of parental kidnapping/custodial interference and unlawful imprisonment. His trial has been postponed twice before. Phillips is accused of kidnapping then-four-month old Katherine Phillips from her mother’s home in Ludington on June 29, 2011. Authorities have said the couple had been involved in an ongoing disagreement about whether the baby should be given up for adoption.

The trial for a West Michigan man accused of abducting his missing baby daughter has been postponed. 21-year old Sean Phillips of Mason County's Victory Township was slated to go to trial on February 22nd on charges of parental kidnapping/custodial interference and unlawful imprisonment. But Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola says an adjournment was granted due to a conflict in the defense attorney's schedule. A new trial date has not yet been set. Phillips is accused of kidnapping then-four-month old Katherine Phillips from her mother’s home in Ludington on June 29, 2011.

The trial for a West Michigan man accused of abducting his missing baby daughter will get underway next month. 21-year old Sean Phillips of Mason County's Victory Township was originally slated to go to trial on January 17th on charges of parental kidnapping/custodial interference and unlawful imprisonment. But the trial was adjourned and has now been rescheduled for February 22nd. Phillips is accused of kidnapping then-four-month old Katherine Phillips from her mother’s home in Ludington on June 29, 2011.

Another search for a Ludington toddler who was taken from her mother's home nearly four months ago came up empty. Investigators from the Mason County Sheriff's Office, Ludington Police Department as well as Mason County Mounted and Ottawa County Marine Division's completed another search over the weekend for Katherine Phillips who was just over four-months old when she disappeared. Authorities searched for nine days in areas previously searched in Amber Township and other areas. Ottawa County brought in a remotely operated vessel to search under water at an area lake.

A trial date has been set early next year for a West Michigan man accused of abducting his missing baby daughter. 21-year old Sean Phillips of Scottville will go to trial on unlawful imprisonment and parental kidnapping charges January 17th in mason county circuit court in Ludington. He rejected a plea deal in the case last month. Katherine Phillips was 4 1/2 months old when she last was seen with Phillips at her mother's apartment in Ludington on June 29th.