ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - For the first time since Albany toddler Detrez Green was reported missing in the aftermath of a deadly 2017 tornado, a family member is publicly sharing a photo of the child, giving the community a face to match a case that has haunted Southwest Georgia for years.

According to the family member, they recently came across the photo and decided to hand it over to the news.

Detrez was 2 years old when he disappeared Jan. 22, 2017, after an EF-3 tornado tore through the Albany area, damaging homes and scattering debris, according to previous reporting by WALB. His mother reported him missing about five hours after the storm hit, WALB reported.

>> READ MORE: The unthinkable happened in January 2017 — twice. <<

Search crews and volunteers spent days combing through rubble and nearby areas, and authorities expanded the search beyond Albany, but Detrez was never found. Investigators said they would have expected clear evidence if the storm had carried the child away, WALB reported.

For years, one of the most unusual aspects of the case has been the absence of a publicly available photo. WALB previously reported that investigators were not provided an image of Detrez, and some relatives said they did not know what he looked like.

The newly released photo is intended to change that — and to generate renewed attention and tips in a case that remains active.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has previously said it continues to seek information about Detrez’s whereabouts.

In a 2024 WALB report, a supervising GBI agent said the agency wants to resolve the case but needs “a starting line.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact law enforcement.

This story will be updated with the current tip line and a response from the GBI and/or Albany police once confirmed.

For a complete timeline of when Detrez went missing to where we are now, click here.

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