Posted on 12/14/2003 4:22:38 PM PST by wcdukenfield
Edited on 12/14/2003 5:28:04 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
LEESBURG, VA
17 year old Loudoun County Girl Gone. Missing Since Friday
A 17 Year old Loudoun County girl has been missing since Friday, December 12, 2003. Christa was last seen Friday morning at Dulles Town Center Mall in Sterling, Virginia. She had driven to the mall in a 1993 green Ford Escort Wagon and developed car trouble along the way. She arrived at the mall at approximately 10:00 am, went in to pick up a package and was seen as very distraught by associates in the mall. She was given directions to a local auto parts store in Sterling and left the mall with her package. She has not been seen since.
The car she was driving was found on Shaker Woods at Wiehle Avenue in Reston, Virginia. According to neighbors, the car was left around 11:00 am parked in a turn lane at a 45 degree angle and must have been left in neutral gear as it apparently rolled into a ditch and became stuck later that afternoon. The car was found Saturday afternoon by Fairfax County Police unlocked with the keys in the ignition and her package still in the backseat.
Her family was notified and retrieved the vehicle. Friends and family have had no word from her at all.
Leesburg Police Officer, Corey Smith is heading up the investigation into Christa?s disappearance. Police have actively pursued several leads but have had no luck into locating the missing girl.
Christa is 5?7? tall, reddish brown hair, medium build. She wears braces and occasionally wire-rimmed glasses. She is possibly wearing a yellow and navy blue Tommy Hilfiger jacket and jeans.
Her distraught family and friends are desperately appealing to the public to give any information regarding Christa and her whereabouts to the Leesburg Police Department or any Local law enforcement agency as she is listed regionally as a missing person.
My suggestion to those non-LEOs involved in this sad circumstance -- one that likely would not interfere with the ongoing and time-sensitive police investigation -- is to send a few people along with substantial supplies of photo-bearing flyers via commercial or private aircraft flights to cities (N/S/E/W) that are 1-2 hours (or more)by air from Loudon County.
These volunteers should rent autos at the airports at which they arrive and back-track on a round-the-clock basis to Loudon County, stopping at truck stops, filling stations, restaurants, etc. along major thorofares and asking them to display the poster.
Hand them out by the hundreds to truckers and drivers of 4-wheelers travelling in the direction of and away from Loudon County.
And ask everyone who is handed a poster whether/when/where/etc. they recall seeing a girl who resembles the one whose photo appears on the poster. Keep the "interview" simple and in earnest and ask them try to get them together ASAP with local law enforcement if they answer in the affirmative.
Posters should include only a recent photo and description of Christa, her first name, and the telephone number being used by the police to work this case -- along with a request that local law enforcement be contacted and provided with info such as tag numbers and descriptions of vehicles and drivers/occupants if she is sighted.
No last name, home telephone numbers related to the victim or her family, or details beyond the (obvious) fact that she is "missing" should be posted-- let the police and FBI screen out potential witnesses, not tomention the kooks, "junior G-men," "treasure hunters," etc. who are sure to crawl out of the woodwork.
Expensive? Yes. (You might find the commercial airlines helpful, for a number of reasons, re: refunding all or part of the price of the tickets purchased for this good cause).
A long shot? Perhaps.
Worth it? Absolutely.
Do the math -- and continue to seek the Lord's help in finding this lost lamb....
Wondering why this story was not run from newspaper; wondering why she would be distraught and want 'auto parts store' - unless, of course, she fixes cars herself. . .Most kids today have cell phones - does not mention if she has one. All-in-all; this story strikes me at least curious as it is alarming.
I do sincerely hope, in any event, that another young girl is has not been taken advantage of in the worst possible way.
If the story is a bit 'confused'; then someone still has a problem and I hope this is resolved quickly as well.
Chris Dowd of Mass.
No matter what peril Christa has fallen into, You are well aware of it. You know exactly where she is. Father, we ask You to wrap her in Your loving arms and provide a way for her to return safely home to her family. If she is being held against her will, show her a way to escape. Lord, You are able. Nothing is too difficult for You. Christa is Your child, and we ask that You would save her life. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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