Gwinnett County police looking for missing 14-year-old girl

Police say missing teen is in danger
Published: Jun. 7, 2023 at 1:25 PM EDT|Updated: Jun. 7, 2023 at 5:42 PM EDT
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ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Gwinnett County officials are renewing calls for help in finding a 14-year-old girl who disappeared on the last day of school.

The teen was last seen on May 24 at around 10:32 a.m. in the parking lot area of Parkview High School in Lilburn. Campus security cameras show the freshman student walking off campus.

RELATED: 14-year-old disappears from Gwinnett Co. high school on last day of school

Parkview’s school police found her laptop and book bag under her 17-year-old sister’s car. Her debit card was located on top of the car’s windshield. A few hours after her disappearance, her cell phone was turned off.

“When she left, she had no money, no clothes, no nothing,” her father told Atlanta News First. “I just think somebody was coaching her, that’s just how I feel. I think someone coached her through this because she doesn’t walk anywhere,” he said.

Her father describes his daughter as quiet and shy, adding that she has perfect attendance in school. He worries she may have been communicating with someone online.

“She has not been active on her social media. And to our knowledge, she does not have access to a car or any cash, so we don’t know who is taking care of her or if she is trying to take care of herself,” said Sgt. Michele Pihera, Gwinnett County Police Department.

Gwinnett County school police, who were originally leading the investigation, told Atlanta News First they were working to get into the teen’s apps for clues into her whereabouts.

Gwinnett County police say they’ll be doing the same thing, along with using other resources campus police didn’t have.

But her family fears precious time has already been wasted.

“It’s unfortunate that they feel like her case was neglected. It was never neglected. We just really need to push this forward, get it in front of your viewers, and hopefully somebody out there knows something,” said Sgt. Pihera.

Gwinnett County police are asking community members to keep an eye out for the missing girl. She is 5 foot 3 inches tall and weighs about 145 pounds. She has black curly hair and brown eyes. The missing teen was last seen wearing a white shirt, brown tights, and white and brown shoes.

If you have any information regarding her whereabouts you are urged to call Gwinnett County police at 770-513-5300. You can also provide an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or by clicking here. Tipsters are eligible to receive a cash reward for information in this case.