SAN DIEGO -- Finding a South Park toddler who vanished from a neighborhood playground last spring remains one of the "highest priorities" for area law enforcement, a high-ranking police official said Friday.

MISSING JAHI TURNER Light-skinned African-American 30 pounds, 30 inches tall Black hair Wearing blue "Winnie the Pooh" T-shirt, blue pants, and gray tennis shoes INFORMATION SDPD Juvenile Hotline: (619) 744-9521 Tip Hotline: (619) 235-8477 Friends of Jahi Recovery Centre: (619) 266-3677 Download A Missing Flyer SOUND OFF Share Your Thoughts

Despite the intensive, prolonged efforts to discover what has become of 2-year-old Jahi Turner, a breakthrough in the highly publicized presumed-kidnapping mystery remains elusive.

"There are no new or significant developments in that case," SDPD Capt. Mike McCulloch said.

A team of homicide investigators has the full-time task of looking for clues into the disappearance of the boy, whose 23-year-old stepfather reported him missing from Balboa Park the afternoon of April 25.

"It's one of our highest priorities," the captain said.

Despite reports that Jahi's biological father has hired a private eye to ferret out clues on the boy's whereabouts and status, San Diego police said they have had no contacts with any such person.

Last week, citing health risks and scant chances of success, SDPD Chief David Bejarano ruled out a proposed second landfill search for evidence in the case.

Bejarano made the decision following intensive consultations with detectives investigating the youngster's disappearance, SDPD information officer Dave Cohen said at the time.

"There is no specific information that indicates any evidence would be found at the Otay (dump)," he said. "The chief also was presented with research indicating there may be significant health risks to those involved."

Days after Jahi went missing, teams of police and volunteers embarked on an exhaustive search of the city's Miramar-area landfill. That site, along with the Otay dump, is the destination for refuse from the Balboa Park area.

The protective suit-clad crews turned up nothing of value from the tons of garbage they combed through for a full week.

Unlike the Miramar dump, the South Bay-area landfill collects sewage-treatment sludge.

Studies indicate that those who handle such "Class B" organic-waste byproducts face heath risks from various pathogens, including bacteria and viruses.

Investigative dead ends notwithstanding, department officials "remain confident that, at some point, they will be able to present a case to the district attorney," Cohen said recently.

"At this time, nobody has been ruled out as a possible suspect," he added.

McCulloch declined to discuss particulars of the probe.

"As soon as we develop anything significant ... we would put out a press release right away to let everybody know at the same time," he said.