[Ispy4u]

Generally a real surprise shocking enough for someone to think "OMG,no!" usually is verballized with a shriek or a scream.

[Catspaw]

How do you know she didn't scream? It's impossible to tell from the story.

[Jrabbit]

I find it odd that the boyfriend didn't immediately call the police.

[hellinahandcart]

I disagree. When I scream, I verbalize.

But either way, we're getting hung up on the reporter's words, not the missing girl's. The boyfriend is the only one who actually heard her.

[Krodg]

Generally a real surprise shocking enough for someone to think "OMG,no!" usually is verballized with a shriek or a scream.

Since you speak in general terms you must be relying some research instead of personal experience. I would be interested in reading that research.

Now from my personal experience (short story only)....

I was a widow with two teenage daughters. I tried to break off a relationship with a guy and he busted through my daughter's bedroom window in the middle of the night. He grabbed my other daughter and found my room. Three females and not one shriek or scream..lot's of 'Oh God' and some 'What the h*ll'(from me).

Next scene, year or so later...He's released from jail, he stalks me, runs my car off the road, busts out my window with a hammer and proceeds to stab me. Still no shrieks or screams.

While this is just my experience, I can attest to the fact that not everyone involved in a life threatening situation always shrieks or screams like in the movies.

Perhaps you spend too much time watching 'soap operas'.