Missing Fremont teen's family asking community for help in locating her

Flyers asking the public to keep a watch out for 16-year-old Katie Hong can be seen all over Fremont.

But, so far, there’s been no sign of the Irvington High School student for more than a week. She was last seen July 25.

Her parents, who are deaf, said they are too distraught to discuss the case but Katie’s uncle said it’s getting worse each day.

“The parents are barely hanging in there. It has been very, very demoralizing, discouraging, devastating in every way for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law.  They are just crushed right now,” said James Han, Katie’s uncle. “I think the longer it goes it’s just the harder it gets.”

Surveillance video captured Katie walking in the direction of Irvington Community Park back on July 25.

According to police, Katie left a note saying she was running away to get together with someone or a group of people she met online.

Police said Katie only had their online user names and, so far, investigators say those names have provided no information on her whereabouts. 

The Fremont Unified School District is asking the community to keep looking.

“I think the idea of keeping an eye out for Katie is the key piece right now. We have a lot of signage up around the community that volunteers and their family have put up. And it’s just taking that extra moment when you’re out shopping or at a park or driving through the community to keep an eye out for someone who is Katie’s description,” said superintendent Zack Larsen.

Katie’s family has also launched a GoFundMe account to help pay to hire a private investigator because after all this time, they say anything is possible. 

“If she’s held against her will then obviously we are very concerned. If she is there because she wants to be there, then it’s a different story too. We just don’t know. Literally we just don’t know,” Han said.

He said some of the funds raised will go to help Katie’s younger sister who he says has been traumatized by the disappearance and, as he said, the longer it goes the harder it is.

Source: NBC Bay Area