MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Police Chief Arthur Jones said 7-year-old girl who disappeared from her Milwaukee neighborhood more than four months ago may never be found alive

He said in an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press that new information still comes into his department about Alexis Patterson, who has been missing since May 3.

"Every day there's something new, but it's more nuances than something that's going to give us some real direction. Obviously we follow up on every lead. We have some theories. But after having said all of that, there's nothing new," Jones said.

Jones said the open case is frustrating, because he wants to keep hoping that Alexis is alive and someone is caring for her, but he said experience tells him that's probably not what happened.

Jones said he agrees with people who say Alexis' disappearance hasn't received as much attention as that of several white girls who've been missing this summer across the country.

Alexis' Description:

• 3 feet 8 inches tall, 42 pounds
• Last seen wearing a red hooded jacket with a gray stripe down the sleeve
• Had two French braids pulled back into a ponytail
• Had on white Nike shoes, a light-purple blouse and blue jeans
• Carrying a pink Barbie doll book bag

If anyone has information on Alexis' disappearance, he or she is asked to call the Milwaukee Police Department or the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department at (414) 935-7401 or (414) 935-7302.