Police: Stepfather of missing upstate NY woman detained

TROY, N.Y. -- The stepfather of a missing upstate New York woman is being held in Rensselaer County Jail on a parole violation as authorities continue to search for the woman.

Troy Police Chief John Tedesco confirms to the Times-Union of Albany that 39-year-old Johnny Oquendo was picked up Friday. Tedesco would not provide details as to why Oquendo was being detained.

Police have been searching for 21-year-old Noel Alkaramla since Nov. 23, when a neighbor found documents with her personal information lying in a street. She has not been seen since a co-worker dropped her off near her home.

Divers also began searching the Hudson River on Friday for Alkaramla. Her mother says Alkaramla suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from a fire downstate several years ago that killed family members.