KANSAS CITY, M. -- A girl missing from Kansas City for nearly a month was spotted in Texas with her father, police said.

Allyson Corrales, 4, has been missing since her mother, Katia Lainez, was found stabbed to death inside of her apartment off Interstate 70 and Sterling Avenue on March 6.

Kansas City detectives headed to Texas after police received a tip that the girl was seen in San Antonio with her father, Luis Corrales, a person of interest in Lainez's death.

San Antonio police said that on Sunday a man wrecked Lainez's 1999 Kia vehicle in their city. They traced the car, which had been missing since the day of her slaying, to the Kansas City girl's disappearance.

The man who had the car said Luis Corrales gave it to him four weeks ago.

Lainez's sister was waiting anxiously in Kansas City for news about her niece. She told KCTV5 News that she's worried yet relieved to know that police are one step closer to bringing Allyson home.

Police said Lainez had a restraining order against Luis Corrales, and he did not have custody of the girl. So, they are asking a judge to charge him with kidnapping, so that they can look for her in Mexico. Police also have leads that Corrales could be hiding in Honduras or El Salvador.