WOODSTOCK, Ont. - When Victoria Stafford was born on July 15, 2000, her father held the tiny newborn in his arms, kissed her on the forehead and promised her he would never let anything happen to her.

"I feel like I broke that promise," Rodney Stafford said Sunday, his weary voice faltering with emotion.

"I don't know where she is. I can't be there to protect her -- and that kills me."

The bubbly and bright eight-year-old girl vanished on April 8 after leaving school. She can be seen on surveillance video walking with a woman, who 18 days later, remains unidentified. A composite sketch of the mystery woman was released late at night on April 21.

More than 1,500 tips have poured in to police in Woodstock, Ont., but the woman has still not been named. Relatives have said they have "suspicions" about who the drawing resembles, but have not elaborated.

A brief clip about Victoria aired on the TV show "America's Most Wanted" on Saturday night, but it was just a few seconds long and did not show the surveillance tape or the composite sketch.

About 25 tips alone came in between 6 p.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. Sunday, police said. The television show aired at 9 p.m. ET.

Stafford wishes the segment was longer, but knows that his daughter's story has now reached much further.

It has been nearly three weeks since the abduction of his "baby girl," and Stafford has been trying to stay strong for himself and for his 11-year-old son Daryn.

But pent up emotion spilled over this weekend as he watched a video someone had put together on YouTube and he was reminded of the day his daughter was born.

"I couldn't handle it and I broke down," he says, speaking from his mother's house in nearby Ingersoll, Ont.

"My little niece came over and gave me a hug and she said, `It's OK. It's OK Uncle Rodney. Tori will come home."'

Stafford knows his son's heart has been aching, but he is proud at how strong Daryn has been.

It was especially tough for him on Friday, which was his 11th birthday. Daryn and his father went for a walk that day and Stafford says the boy told him he misses his sister, who is also his best friend.

"He said he was wishing that by the time his birthday came around she would be back so he could have his birthday with his sister," Stafford says.

As for Stafford, he says his little Tori is always on his mind, even when he is asleep.

"Every dream I have is about Victoria," he says. Sometimes he dreams about her coming home, other times she will be in a dream and magically disappear.

"It's taking a toll mentally on me."

In the midst of this crisis Stafford is also juggling his studies. He is earning more high school credits with an eye to studying corrections. He has exams on Tuesday and a new semester beginning May 4.

At times it is impossible to concentrate on anything but Victoria, he says, but he has to keep going.

Stafford is concerned for Tori's health and her safety, but other fatherly concerns weigh heavy on his mind, too.

"One thing that is worrying me now though is all these beautiful days we've had," he says. "Has she been able to go outside? Has she been able to be a little girl?"

Investigators in Woodstock spent Sunday following up on the many tips they have received and continuing door-to-door canvasses. Also Sunday family and supporters gathered at a park in London, Ont., for a release of purple balloons. Purple is Tori's favourite colour.