Fremont police are searching for a missing 16-year-old girl believed to have run away last week to meet up with someone she met online.
On Friday evening, Katie Hong left her family’s home on Queens Park Court, Fremont police said in a news release that included photos of the missing teen.
A note believed to be written by Katie was found, saying she was running away to possibly meet with people she only knew by their online screen names.
“The note indicated the people would not provide her with their true names, and it does not appear that Katie met these people prior to her being missing,” police said Thursday.
Katie was seen on surveillance cameras walking alone from her home, between 6:11 p.m. and 6:21 p.m. on Friday, to Irvington Community Park, which was referenced in her note.
Police released an image of what appears to be the missing teen, wearing a large, red backpack and carrying what appears to be a desktop computer.
The last time she was seen on surveillance video was walking through a gas station at the corner of Blacow Road and Grimmer Boulevard, heading south towards Irvington Community Park.
The last location for her phone was at the park, where investigators believe her phone was left behind.
Information obtained through search warrants and court orders hasn’t turned up any information about her whereabouts or who she may be with, police said.
Katie was very active on various digital platforms, including gaming platforms, and used multiple screen names on these platforms, but since she was reported missing investigators haven’t located a digital footprint for her.
Authorities don’t think that she has ever met up with the people behind the online screen names.
“Based on the cumulative, verifiable evidence at this time, Katie is believed to be voluntarily missing,” police said in a statement.
Investigators are working with her family using all available law enforcement tools to find her, including license plate readers, online search tools and surveillance footage. Police are also partnering with federal agencies on the missing person investigation.
Katie is described as Korean American, about 5 feet tall and weighing 100 pounds, with brown eyes, dark brown hair, and braces.
Police consider her at-risk based on the circumstances. Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to contact the Fremont Police Investigations Unit at (510) 790-6900. Anonymous tips can be submitted by texting ‘Tip FremontPD’ followed by a message to 888-777 or via the web at fremontpolice.gov/Tip.
Source: NBC Bay Area