St. Charles Girl, 14, Vanishes After Missing Dance Class
ST CHARLES (CBS) -- Police are searching for a 14-year-old girl from west suburban St. Charles who has not been seen since missing a dance class last week.
Emily Czajkowski walked away from the Pottawatomie Community Center at 8 North Ave. in St. Charles about 6:35 p.m. Wednesday after being dropped off for a dance class, according to St. Charles police. She did not attend the class.
Video surveillance showed her leaving the building and talking on her cell phone, police said. Soon after, she posted a message to friends on social media that she intended to hurt herself, but the message was quickly deleted.
Emily was spotted walking westbound on West Main Street (Route 64) after leaving the community center, and then was seen between 7 and 8 p.m. near Main and 14th streets.
She has not been seen since, and her cell phone is either off or without power, police said.
At St. Charles' Button Man print shop, more than 8,000 missing posters were produced, free of charge -- just one contribution in the community-wide search for the teen.
"She's part of this community, and we just wanted to expand on that and just help the effort. We want to see her come home," owner Jake Martens said.
St. Charles police are looking at the case as nothing more sinister than a runaway juvenile, CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports. That didn't stop more volunteers from gathering downtown Monday to distribute more flyers.
"To be honest, I don't think it really matters exactly what happened. I just think it matters that we get the awareness out and eyes are peeled and looking for her," search coordinator Kylee Porter says.
Czajkowski was last seen wearing a bright shirt and shorts, blue knee-high socks, and carrying an oversized, furry snow-leopard patterned bag, police said. She likes to go to movies and go shopping.
"The family is working closely with [the St. Charles police department] and supports their efforts 100%," according to a post on the "Help find Emily Czajkowski" Facebook page.
"There are many ideas and theories floating around but it is critical that we not interfere with the investigation," according to the post.
Anyone with information is asked to call St. Charles police at (630) 377-4435 or 911.
