New Jersey Police Search For Missing Burlington County Teenager
FLORENCE TWP.,N.J. (CBS) -- It is a troubling mystery for the parents of Sarah Townsend. So far a massive search for the missing 18-year-old has yielded few answers.
Sarah Townsend's morning appeared routine.
The 18-year-old left her Florence home at around 7a.m. and was expected to head to school. But just three hours later an intense search for the missing teenager was underway.
The search centers around Sherman's pond near Green Acres Field in Burlington Township. According to Police, Sarah's car was found by her 20-year-old boyfriend parked near the pond at 10 in the morning.
He called 911 and police found some of her personal belongings inside the car.
"You have a car that is parked here with a cell phone, a purse and the parents haven't heard from their daughter," said Burlington Township Police Lt. Brian Painter.
Dive teams searched the shallow pond until dark. They looked along the water's edge hoping to find any clue as to what happened.
"At this time we still have nothing leading us to foul play or anything suspicious,no signs of foul play," Lt. Painter said.
More than 100 rescue personal, including search dogs, scoured the area about a mile or two away from Route 130 in hopes of finding Townsend.
Police tell Eyewitness News, Sarah and her boyfriend at times would come to this park together.
Right now investigators indicate there are no obvious signs explaining her disappearance.
"The parents right now were just as surprised today when we called to tell them we had their daughter's car out here," Lt. Painter said.
The search for Sarah was halted Monday night, it will resume early Tuesday morning.
Townsend's father declined to speak on camera, but he wanted me to pass on a message to tell Sarah he loves her, everything is going to be okay and please come home.
He is also pleading with anyone who might know what happened to Sarah to contact Burlington township police immediately at 609-386-2019.
Reported by Todd Quinones, CBS 3
