Missing N.H. Teen's Mother Pleads: 'We Want You Back With Us'
NORTH CONWAY, N.H. (AP) — The mother of a missing North Conway girl made an emotional plea for her return Saturday, four days after the teen vanished after leaving school.
Abigail Hernandez was last seen leaving Kennett High School around 2:30 Wednesday. Police say she made it home but when her mother returned home later, the girl was gone.
"Abby," Zenya Hernandez said, her voice breaking, "I want to say please come home. We miss you so badly. We want you back with us."
Local, state and federal agents continued to search for Abigail by land, water and air. Police have meticulously combed four square miles on land, scoured parts of the Saco River and paddled over Pudding Pond. The N.H. medical examiner was called twice to North Conway on Saturday but neither time was related to Abigail's disappearance: One was for a hiker who died Saturday and another was after the discovery of human bone fragments from several years ago, police said.
Zenya Hernandez asked Abigail's friends to come forward with any information that could help return her safely, including whether there were recent changes in her behavior. The distraught mother was mindful of the importance of the day: Abigail's 15th birthday.
"We love you and we miss you and happy birthday, Abby," she said.
Police are asking the public to remain vigilant. They've handed out posters with photos of the missing girl and have been stopping traffic to spread the word. Billboards carry Abigail's image and the number to call to report tips: 1-800-CALL-FBI.
The FBI is involved and enlisted the help of its Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team, pulling in agents from as far away as Virginia to assist in the search.
Police said they don't need volunteers to conduct search efforts.
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