UPDATE: Missing Ottawa girl found safe, police say
Original story:
A 15-year-old girl went for a walk in Ottawa Saturday afternoon, never came home, and her phone last pinged in Illinois, according to a Wednesday news release from police.
Family members have been unable to contact Aliyah Hardridge since she left her home for a walk around 4:18 p.m. Saturday, June 12. They reported her missing to Ottawa police at 8:49 p.m. that evening, according to the news release, which was posted to Facebook around 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Law enforcement checked her cellphone records, and the phone she was carrying last showed a location near Highland, Illinois, along or near Interstate 70, according to the release. It was not clear from the release when the phone showed that location, but it’s about a five-hour drive from Ottawa.
“Unfortunately, for the next 48 hours no additional phone records were received–likely a result of the phone being off or having no power,” the release said.
Aliyah is Black, 5-foot-7, weighs 195 pounds and has short black hair in small braids, according to the release. She was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt with the word “love” on it over a gray Harley Davidson tank top and black shorts.
Officers have searched areas where Aliyah is known to walk, searched wood lines and railroad tracks, and asked area residents to check any home surveillance or doorbell cameras to look for Aliyah, all to no avail, according to the release.
OPD asks that anyone with information call 911 immediately, and call Aaron Procaccini, detective sergeant, at 785-242-2561, ext. 7432 “with additional information.”
A shareable missing child poster is available at this link. Ottawa PD detectives have so far worked with Kansas City, Missouri, and Norfolk, Virginia police departments and the FBI to follow up potential leads, according to the release.
