A California teen is still missing nearly two weeks after she reportedly left home to meet people she knew online.
According to KGO. Katie Hong, 16, was last seen leaving her Fremont home on July 25. Surveillance footage reportedly showed her walking from her home to Irvington Community Park — and police Lieutenant Calvin Tang said she was possibly carrying a computer monitor.
Tang claimed Hong left behind a note indicating that she was meeting people she knew online. Tang also said Hong frequently used Discord, a social media application that is popular among gamers, according to KGO.
KRON reported that since her disappearance, Hong has been inactive on her known social media accounts, meaning the police have been unable to trace her whereabouts. Police said her phone was last pinged at the community park, where it was recovered.
Fremont police also said they believe Hong is voluntarily missing — though she is considered at risk due to the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. KRON reported that surveillance cameras filmed her leaving home three hours before police were contacted.
“We feel absolutely helpless, and I think because of that we feel hopeless,” Hong’s uncle told KGO.
Hong’s parents are reportedly deaf. They have hired private investigators to assist with the ongoing search.
Hong was described as standing 5 feet tall, weighing 100 pounds, and having with brown eyes, dark brown hair, and braces. She was last seen wearing a large, red Patagonia backpack, a navy-blue mid zip-up jacket, and grey sweatpants.
Anyone with information regarding Hong’s whereabouts should call Fremont police’s Investigations Unit at 510-790-6900.
[Feature Photo: Fremont police]
