LEESBURG, Fla. -- The father of a 2-year-old boy who has been missing for more than 2 weeks told Local 6 News that he does not believe a stuffed animal found during a search in the Ocala National Forest belongs to his son.

Authorities received a new tip Thursday that Trenton Duckett and his mother were apparently seen in the Ocala National Forest on the weekend the child vanished, police said.

During the search, a child's toy elephant was found, but it apparently does not belong to Trenton.

"Father Joshua Duckett said at first he was alarmed when searchers found a stuffed animal, an elephant, near the search site," Local 6's Erik von Ancken said. "But, now he believes the toy does not belong to Trenton."

"He wasn't a real big stuffed animal fan," Joshua Duckett said. "He tended to play more with the balls."

Joshua Duckett planned to see the stuffed animal Friday.

Authorities said they are leaning toward the scenario that the boy's mother may have staged the boy's disappearance from his home at the end of August, Local 6 News reported.

Melinda Duckett committed suicide last week, officials said, and since then investigators have leaned away from the theory that an intruder snatched the boy from his home.

Gun Investigated

Local 6 News has learned that crime lab technicians are analyzing a .20-guage shotgun recovered from Melinda's home to see if it is relevant in Trenton's disappearance.

"Melinda did purchase a firearm during the month of August, which is the same month of the reported abduction," Leesburg police Capt. Steve Rockefeller said.

The gun Melinda used to kill herself belonged to her grandparents, the report said.

The 21-year-old mother was studying for a career in law enforcement and had experience shooting guns.

"We heard that she did do some shooting, some target practice-type shooting," Rockefeller.

Joshua Duckett also confirmed Thursday that when Melinda was pregnant with Trenton, she was checked into a mental health facility because she was talking about suicide

Pet Cemetery Searched

Rockefeller said Thursday's tip was one of several that they have followed in recent days.

"I know we have searched a minimum of 10 different areas," Rockefeller said.

Rockefeller also said a pet cemetery was searched for Trenton.

Meanwhile, Trenton's family is holding a prayer vigil at 7:30 p.m. in Leesburg Square.

Anyone with information into Trenton's whereabouts is urged to call 800-CALL-FBI.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.