Volunteers, professional search-and-rescue crews and other authorities widened their search for 5-year-old Leanna Warner Tuesday, but the disappointing results were the same as the previous two frustrating days: no sign and no clue of the girl missing since Saturday afternoon.

Warner walked out of her family's Chisholm house in her bare feet at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, telling her parents she was going to do what she had done many times before, visit a neighbor. But they aren't sure if she made it to the house as no one was home at the time.

She was spotted in the area at about 6 p.m., according to the Duluth News Tribune.

By 9 p.m. her parents realized she never made it to the neighbor's and they called police.

A quick search turned into broader sweep and then into an intense manhunt that was expanded by a half-mile radius Tuesday, but to no avail.

With authorities saying they have checked all bodies of water, scoured wooded areas and checked pits and other areas where Warner may have ended up it's unlikely she could have survived this long outdoors.

That sent hopes dimming and fears rising throughout Chisholm, the Tribune reported.

Authorities said there was no initial indication that foul play was involved in the disappearance so no Amber alert was issued. A statewide alert to law enforcement was issued earlier this week, and a poster including Warner's picture was circulated Tuesday.

St. Louis County Sheriff Ross Litman said Tuesday that the case is still being treated as a missing child case rather than an abduction -- although that possibility hasn't been ruled out.

Authorities have checked all known sex offenders in the area. And they noted that Chisholm was busy Saturday night with many out-of-town revelers attending a music festival.

"It was very busy in town that night. There were a lot of people here who don't live here. We've considered that," Litman said.

A friend of the parents, Chris and Kaelin Warner, read a statement from the family thanking the hundreds of people who have helped in the search for "their tireless efforts searching through weeds, diving sewers, pounding pavement, climbing over rocks and bushes in the rough Iron Range terrain."

They also thanked clergy and those praying on their behalf.

"We are Iron Rangers," the family said. "Let our nation know that we Iron Rangers are a strong and compassionate people who are resourceful, and we know the meaning of faith."

Searchers have combed a 1.1-mile radius round the girl's home that includes parts of nearby Longyear Lake, Litman said. The search area was expanded to 1.6 miles Tuesday and included more homes and businesses.

"We are nearly certain, within reason, that Leanna is not in the water or in Longyear Lake," Litman said.

When asked when the search would turn into a recovery effort, Litman replied: "It's going to be a search effort until we find her. The longer this goes on, it's not good."