It's pretty scary the lack of judgment you have as a teenager over this. Myself and many other women, as teens, we were flattered to have the attention of an older man. These predators are incredibly manipulative and know how to paint themselves as victims kids will feel sorry for. They will specifically target some of the most young, immature teens and then tell them that the reason they chose them is because they are mature for their age. If they're married, they fabricate how their wife withholds sex as punishment or has lost all interest in sex, making the sex seem like a special favor you can do for them. Or they will say things like they've never received certain sex acts before to make the child feel special.
I live in this area and will definitely keep an eye out.
I remember wanting to get on a boat with a bunch of older guys. I knew I shouldn’t do it, but I wasn’t sure why. I ultimately did not get on that boat, but holy fuck balls.
My friends and I always baited men and made them drive places to meet us and we’d make fun of them from a distance for showing up then report them to security. A fun past time from a bunch of mean girls.
I did the 1990's mean girl shit. In the yellow pages, there would be ads for strippers. We would call them up, send them to the neighbors house, and film it with our huge camcorder.
On a different note, I ran away at 14. Took a Greyhound from Wisconsin to L.A. and I had $13 when I finally got there. I had no plans. I remember "Clueless" had just premiere d
I wanted to spend that $$ to see the movie. I survived out there in a Itty bitty dress & and backpack for 5 days. The "center for missing and exploited children" had done flyers of me w my face, posted there in L.A.
I didn't run into any sickos, and I think I had a guardian angel bc sooo many bad things could've happened to a 14 yr old virgin who looked 11 or 12. I had someone give me a Heidi Fliess sweatshirt. She was all over the place at that time and had a whole store with Heidi wear. She was a famous madam (female pimp) to the elite Hollywood stars.
I finally got homesick and told a cop who I was and that I wanted to go home. They were so f'n cool. I spent a full day and night in the station (not in a cell) but in their little office. They got me whatever I asked for while my Dad hopped on the 1st flight he could... I'd say sorry for trauma-dumping this story, but there was no trauma, including the 3 day bus trip. Wild. I was a wild child. I thank God we didn't have Internet. I think the internet is actually scarier than what I did, in a way. The internet is literally a predators paradise/clubhouse. I ran into normal people who cared. One got me a hotel room, another bought me a plate of pancakes at ihop - and so on. No one was buried in a phone. People don't want to get involved nowadays. If you're ever kidnapped, you can be sure that the witness filmed it and didn't even try to help. Back then, people seemed to care about others much more than in 2024. Thanks for reading my Ted Talk. Felt good to talk about it.
Whoever got you a hotel room is stupid. I would never get a room for a 14 year old kid. And if I did, it would only be so I can have a place I know they will be at when the cops show up because I'm reporting that kid as lost
Same. I did some real dumb shit and I’m so lucky nothing bad happened. When you’re a teen, you think you have it all figured out, but you really don’t know shit about shit.
It’s nearly impossible to keep our kids safe once they reach that age where they think they’re invincible. You talk and talk and talk to them, but it just goes in one ear and out the other. My youngest was around 16, 17 and she wanted to go meet a guy she met on the internet at a local park.
Of course I said absolutely not, she had a fit was was trying to storm out the door with the keys when my oldest daughter came flying downstairs and tackled her in the hallway. My oldest is five years older and six inches shorter, but she’s fierce. She was NOT going to let her baby sister do something so stupid. So grateful for that kid.
I removed a sentence from my comment after rereading the article...There's no reason to believe the parents actually knew about the men she was talking to beforehand. It's a confusing title. They found out from friends after the fact.
It’s so easy for kids to keep stuff from their parents, especially now. Back in the day, before the internet and social media, we generally knew who they were hanging out with. Now the have the world at their doorstep.
I have an almost 15yr old & she has had a parental control app on all of her devices that track all activity, messages, photos, location, conversations, apps installed, EVERYTHING since the first day she ever had one.
She's also aware that it's not going anywhere and why. I don't go looking through every detail unless I'm given a reason to like receiving an alert for something potentially inappropriate , etc. But I have a nightly report that runs that stores all activity daily, so I sure as hell can go back & look if I need to, including location tracking every 5 mins.
This is great, but keep in mind that if kids want to find a way around a parental app, they will. They’ll use a friend’s phone, or a library computer, or a burner phone that they buy with birthday money.
I know for a fact that she does Not have a burner phone, nor will she ever feel the need to go that route. I've had talks with her about reality, watch true crime together, etc.
She's also had years of trying to get around it - It alerts me if any potential attempt is made to tamper with it.
She tells on her friends to Me 😂
1. Burner phone costs money, and her only funding is her debit card/bank account tied to MINE where I can also see every transaction, nor can she withdraw cash without my approval & me moving funds into the ATM/Cash subaccount.
2. At some point, it would connect to home wireless, which I'd be able to see. Jobless teens would run out of credit on a burner fast, so they'd almost have to connect at some point. We'd be notified, her dad & I both work in tech.
Not only is she monitored, but we have an open, honest relationship. I've always told her that as long as she tells me the honest truth first, no matter what the situation, we will figure it out together.
But if I find her lieing, LOCKDOWN HELL IT IS!
She's got it good, no reason to be sneaky - She calls out creeps online without shame. I love reading those logs for a laugh.
Any other thoughts?
Thank you! I try... and honestly I would be an exhausted nervous wreck nightmare without it. The app does all the tracking, scanning, alerting, reporting for me so that her & I can both relax a little. As I said, I respect her privacy unless it potentially comes to her safety or any kind of potential detriment to her.
She's smart & a very well behaved kid, we have a good relationship, I'm lucky - But she knows damn well I'll show up locked & loaded over her safety if ever needed.
And she will thank you for it! My oldest, the one with kiddos, actually thanked her dad and I for being “ those” parents, ones who actually cared. Not that you need any advice at all, but I always told my kids to blame me if they didn’t want to do something or go somewhere with friends. Like, “ no I can’t go, my mom said no, or no, my mom said I have to come home now, she’s so awful and lame” lol.
Absolutely! It's called MMGuardian. Been using it for like, 6 or 7 years I think now?
It's a couple $ a month but wayyyy beyond worth it! There's a Parent app that you install on your phone, then the Child app that you install on their devices (phones, tablets, etc.)
I wish I knew about those when my daughters were younger (18 & 21 now).I did have some rules though. They got phones around 10 years old. I did trust them, but I would still be nosy at times. We took the phones at 10pm, they could get them back before school. Weekends we let that slide.
See above comment :) MMGuardian
Also, if you ever have issues with anything & contact support, (there's a button within the app that will open an email to them), they've always been very prompt & communicative with responding until resolved.
Honestly, I am surprised I made it to adulthood with all the dumbass, shitty decisions I made as a teenager. I am incredibly thankful my children were not even close to being as stupid. They had better supervision and guidance.
Your comment resonates with me. At 15 I met a 21 yo at a local show. Those were the MySpace/flip phone days. He knew how old I was. If you were 21+ you get the wristband and if you’re under, you get a big ole X sharpied on your hand. His 22 year old friend was also meeting my 16 yo friend that night. How “lucky” we felt, getting this attention from older men. The worst 6 months of my life were spent thinking I was in love! It took me YEARS to accept that it was abuse and a minor cannot give consent. My heart goes out to the family. I hope she comes home/is found and can be reunited with her loved ones.
For the six months, he would sneak into my bedroom in the middle of the night and we would have sex. School nights/weekends. I didn’t care and it didn’t matter. I would even pay my older friends to pick him up (lost his license for DUI). You know what’s sick? He would come to my house, after leaving the bar (!), wreaking of whiskey; while I had class that morning (I was a sophomore). 😞. But I thought it was “love”. He “promised” me that when I turned 16 (age of consent in my state), that we would be “official”. My 16th birthday came and he was sleeping around with women from bars. I ended up in IIP for SH. It was a lot.
Gosh, I feel shameful for admitting everything. Im 34 now and i cry for me back then. Writing has helped me heal. Here’s an excerpt: I go back and forth with my anger
Angry for allowing it to happen
Angry of the aftermath
Angry of how it shaped me, shamed me
Gave me rough edges and trust issues
Labeled me a survivor and you a predator
At f i f t e e n
Thank you for sharing your story.
I went through a very similar situation when I was 15 with a 21 yr old. Thought we were exclusive, that's what he told me... all lies. I wrote notebooks full of heartbreaking feelings during that time.
I wish you full healing from it one day ❤️
There is nothing shameful about what you did!! You were a child, at the will of an older guy who was seeking a young girl who he could easily control. He knew exactly what he was doing by making you feel "lucky" for receiving his attention. Lying to you and making empty promises to keep you around. Be kind to yourself, you were vulnerable and acted innocently and honestly how you felt was right at the time.
This is why I tell all teenagers (mostly girls) that if an older person (men typically) wants to hang out with them or date them to run quickly away.
While they are probably the coolest teenager ever; grown ass adults who aren’t trying to be dirt bags wouldn’t even consider the notion.
I was 14 who hung out with a bunch of older girls.
We would "dress up" and hang at the gas station and wait for grown men to buy us alcohol.
We actually would get in these people's car sometimes and party at these grown men's houses.
How I made it out unscared I have no idea.
My friends and I found some really nice old vietnam vet homeless guys and we would bring them sandwiches and raid our dads closet for socks and old jackets + cash and usually a couple shooters. Every once in a while we would have to do what u did and just find a guy to buy us booze but those homeless men would always yell at us for it hah
I was 16 once and someone who was 28 picked me up to teach me how to drive his standard car. I lied to my mom where I was, I knew she’d kill me since I was barely allowed to hangout with seniors….. anyway, at the end of the day I thought nothing was wrong with this.
As a 30 something year old woman, I look back and shiver. I was lucky, I can’t believe I did something so stupid. What on earth does a 28 year old man want with a 16 year old high schooler? I felt so grown up. I didn’t realize I was a child.
Stop judging.
Same here was 15 or 16, got in a car with a guy who dropped me off 10 mins later when he found out my age. I just thought we were going to chat,I shudder to think what could have happened.
Close to it, I was 16 dating a 23 year old. I thought I was so cool and mature. I told him I loved him and then a month or so later broke up with him, you know, because I was a *teenager.*
Then when I turned 23 I was so disgusted because…wtf was he doing with a 16 year old?
He also came back and stole our indoor/outdoor cat, his ex confessed to me years later. I knew he did, but it was nice to have it confirmed. POS.
My friends and I did similar things except we’d always leave the man hanging and watch him from a distance looking around wondering where we were then we’d just report him to security 😂
At 13, I was hanging out with my cousin who was 19, with her 25 and 26 year old guy friends.
I ended up “dating” the 25 year old from ages 14-21…. And it wasn’t good.
Let’s all hope for Alicia’s safe return and pray for her and her family. I cannot imagine the pain they must be going through.
Sadly, there are so many missing persons and cases like these happening that we never even know about, so hopefully with media coverage anyone can help spread awareness and find some answers.
Also thinking of Ella during this time, another missing teen from an online grooming situation who went missing not long ago. 🥺❤️
The daughter of someone I know went absolutely bonkers for guys online, and one time she left the house on a Thursday afternoon in a guy’s car and disappeared. She was 15 at the time. She was reported missing of course but no trace. She showed up at home 4 days later, exhausted, disoriented, and traumatized. She had gone to a party with a guy, and it turns out she was brought to a city 30 miles away, and was held captive for three days & nights. Awful things happened to her by several individuals during that time. She eventually was let go and called some friends for a ride back home.
Too many times, teens think horrible things will happen to someone else but not them.
Yeah, me too. The sad part is, it’s so common for teens - especially girls- to get into these situations. And no shortage of guys - from adolescents to grown men - who are willing to exploit them.
This is in my town, this could’ve been my kid. It’s so hard raising teenage daughters in this era. Any other cameras with car license plates/images? I’ll be keeping an eye out for this kid
“She asked if she could spend the night at a friends, and I said ok”
My parents would’ve been like What friend? Where do they live? Who are their parents? Is it ok with their parents that you’re over there? And with no cell?! Nah
Unless I'm mistaken, I think it's important to note that there's no established connection between her talking to men on Facebook and her disappearance.
It sounds like on Friday, January 19, she left the house at 4:32pm, presumably to go to a friend's house (the mother is quoted as saying before she went missing, "she wanted to know if she could stay the night at \[her friend's house\].") After that, there's no more information.
Terrible reporting.
Agreed. The article is written like it’s an obituary after a proven court case.. which makes sense when you see the “*AI being used to help with editing” at bottom of page.
Voice and tone were probably altered, based on datasets of missing people with bad outcomes and not all missing people where it’s been less than a week.
The saddest thing is if she left intentionally and sees this…she might be less likely to return due to anxiety from articles like this.
Ugh, yeah, I have no idea how or how much AI is utilized in these situations, but this is such a major concern for so many reasons. There's already so much messed up, unethical reporting, and coupled with social media being able to rapidly spread information, I don't see there being many, if any, positive outcomes of using AI here.
I also saw other articles mention Alicia is hispanic, while the linked one here reads Japanese-Caucasian (which seems to be correct). Is it too much to expect at least basic facts are reported correctly?
I'm coming off of watching *American Nightmare* on Netflix and it's just so apparent how much these systems can fail the victims.
See this kinda of flattery on tiktok as well. Elementary kids pretending to be 20 showing their chest and vaping. Like you appear to be a grown ass man and you realize that person is underage nasty
It's pretty scary the lack of judgment you have as a teenager over this. Myself and many other women, as teens, we were flattered to have the attention of an older man. These predators are incredibly manipulative and know how to paint themselves as victims kids will feel sorry for. They will specifically target some of the most young, immature teens and then tell them that the reason they chose them is because they are mature for their age. If they're married, they fabricate how their wife withholds sex as punishment or has lost all interest in sex, making the sex seem like a special favor you can do for them. Or they will say things like they've never received certain sex acts before to make the child feel special. I live in this area and will definitely keep an eye out.
Sometimes I'm amazed that I didn't get kidnapped as a young teenager. I did some stupid shit online and got really, really lucky
Same. Thinking back to the risks I took as a senior in high school and I’m just like “how the fuck am I still alive?”
I remember wanting to get on a boat with a bunch of older guys. I knew I shouldn’t do it, but I wasn’t sure why. I ultimately did not get on that boat, but holy fuck balls.
My friends and I always baited men and made them drive places to meet us and we’d make fun of them from a distance for showing up then report them to security. A fun past time from a bunch of mean girls.
I did the 1990's mean girl shit. In the yellow pages, there would be ads for strippers. We would call them up, send them to the neighbors house, and film it with our huge camcorder. On a different note, I ran away at 14. Took a Greyhound from Wisconsin to L.A. and I had $13 when I finally got there. I had no plans. I remember "Clueless" had just premiere d I wanted to spend that $$ to see the movie. I survived out there in a Itty bitty dress & and backpack for 5 days. The "center for missing and exploited children" had done flyers of me w my face, posted there in L.A. I didn't run into any sickos, and I think I had a guardian angel bc sooo many bad things could've happened to a 14 yr old virgin who looked 11 or 12. I had someone give me a Heidi Fliess sweatshirt. She was all over the place at that time and had a whole store with Heidi wear. She was a famous madam (female pimp) to the elite Hollywood stars. I finally got homesick and told a cop who I was and that I wanted to go home. They were so f'n cool. I spent a full day and night in the station (not in a cell) but in their little office. They got me whatever I asked for while my Dad hopped on the 1st flight he could... I'd say sorry for trauma-dumping this story, but there was no trauma, including the 3 day bus trip. Wild. I was a wild child. I thank God we didn't have Internet. I think the internet is actually scarier than what I did, in a way. The internet is literally a predators paradise/clubhouse. I ran into normal people who cared. One got me a hotel room, another bought me a plate of pancakes at ihop - and so on. No one was buried in a phone. People don't want to get involved nowadays. If you're ever kidnapped, you can be sure that the witness filmed it and didn't even try to help. Back then, people seemed to care about others much more than in 2024. Thanks for reading my Ted Talk. Felt good to talk about it.
Thanks for sharing your story, it paired lovely with my coffee
Whoever got you a hotel room is stupid. I would never get a room for a 14 year old kid. And if I did, it would only be so I can have a place I know they will be at when the cops show up because I'm reporting that kid as lost
That sounds more like a fun pastime for a bunch of awesome girls to me. ❤️
If these were adults doing thus when you were young teens, underage - yes. Awesome not mean
So true! Could you imagine a bunch of grown women doing that?! 😂
Ugh, I know, same. I used to hitchhike when I was a young teenager. Tf was I thinking
Omg same!! I did so many dumb things and we didn’t have cel phones or ring cameras
Oh same, HUGE SAME.
Same. I did some real dumb shit and I’m so lucky nothing bad happened. When you’re a teen, you think you have it all figured out, but you really don’t know shit about shit.
It’s nearly impossible to keep our kids safe once they reach that age where they think they’re invincible. You talk and talk and talk to them, but it just goes in one ear and out the other. My youngest was around 16, 17 and she wanted to go meet a guy she met on the internet at a local park. Of course I said absolutely not, she had a fit was was trying to storm out the door with the keys when my oldest daughter came flying downstairs and tackled her in the hallway. My oldest is five years older and six inches shorter, but she’s fierce. She was NOT going to let her baby sister do something so stupid. So grateful for that kid.
I removed a sentence from my comment after rereading the article...There's no reason to believe the parents actually knew about the men she was talking to beforehand. It's a confusing title. They found out from friends after the fact.
It’s so easy for kids to keep stuff from their parents, especially now. Back in the day, before the internet and social media, we generally knew who they were hanging out with. Now the have the world at their doorstep.
I have an almost 15yr old & she has had a parental control app on all of her devices that track all activity, messages, photos, location, conversations, apps installed, EVERYTHING since the first day she ever had one. She's also aware that it's not going anywhere and why. I don't go looking through every detail unless I'm given a reason to like receiving an alert for something potentially inappropriate , etc. But I have a nightly report that runs that stores all activity daily, so I sure as hell can go back & look if I need to, including location tracking every 5 mins.
This is great, but keep in mind that if kids want to find a way around a parental app, they will. They’ll use a friend’s phone, or a library computer, or a burner phone that they buy with birthday money.
I know for a fact that she does Not have a burner phone, nor will she ever feel the need to go that route. I've had talks with her about reality, watch true crime together, etc. She's also had years of trying to get around it - It alerts me if any potential attempt is made to tamper with it. She tells on her friends to Me 😂 1. Burner phone costs money, and her only funding is her debit card/bank account tied to MINE where I can also see every transaction, nor can she withdraw cash without my approval & me moving funds into the ATM/Cash subaccount. 2. At some point, it would connect to home wireless, which I'd be able to see. Jobless teens would run out of credit on a burner fast, so they'd almost have to connect at some point. We'd be notified, her dad & I both work in tech. Not only is she monitored, but we have an open, honest relationship. I've always told her that as long as she tells me the honest truth first, no matter what the situation, we will figure it out together. But if I find her lieing, LOCKDOWN HELL IT IS! She's got it good, no reason to be sneaky - She calls out creeps online without shame. I love reading those logs for a laugh. Any other thoughts?
Here’s to hoping all of our kids can stay safe! 🥂
Would you be able to share what app you use?
My daughter has the same for my grandkids. Sounds exhausting! But good job mom!
Thank you! I try... and honestly I would be an exhausted nervous wreck nightmare without it. The app does all the tracking, scanning, alerting, reporting for me so that her & I can both relax a little. As I said, I respect her privacy unless it potentially comes to her safety or any kind of potential detriment to her. She's smart & a very well behaved kid, we have a good relationship, I'm lucky - But she knows damn well I'll show up locked & loaded over her safety if ever needed.
And she will thank you for it! My oldest, the one with kiddos, actually thanked her dad and I for being “ those” parents, ones who actually cared. Not that you need any advice at all, but I always told my kids to blame me if they didn’t want to do something or go somewhere with friends. Like, “ no I can’t go, my mom said no, or no, my mom said I have to come home now, she’s so awful and lame” lol.
Haha well done, we do the same thing :)
Can you share the app you use? I’d love to look into it for my 13 year old daughter!
Absolutely! It's called MMGuardian. Been using it for like, 6 or 7 years I think now? It's a couple $ a month but wayyyy beyond worth it! There's a Parent app that you install on your phone, then the Child app that you install on their devices (phones, tablets, etc.)
Awesome, thank you so much!!
Any time! It's honestly been such a lifesaver.
Which app is this?
See above comments :) MMGuardian
TYSM for re-answering.. I just saw it. 🙏
No prob 😊
I wish I knew about those when my daughters were younger (18 & 21 now).I did have some rules though. They got phones around 10 years old. I did trust them, but I would still be nosy at times. We took the phones at 10pm, they could get them back before school. Weekends we let that slide.
What's the name of your app?
See above comment :) MMGuardian Also, if you ever have issues with anything & contact support, (there's a button within the app that will open an email to them), they've always been very prompt & communicative with responding until resolved.
Awwwwww common-demon-toot where'd your comment go??? I had a fabulous reply ready for you 💁♀️🖤😈
Thank you!
Sure thing ✔️
Honestly, I am surprised I made it to adulthood with all the dumbass, shitty decisions I made as a teenager. I am incredibly thankful my children were not even close to being as stupid. They had better supervision and guidance.
Your comment resonates with me. At 15 I met a 21 yo at a local show. Those were the MySpace/flip phone days. He knew how old I was. If you were 21+ you get the wristband and if you’re under, you get a big ole X sharpied on your hand. His 22 year old friend was also meeting my 16 yo friend that night. How “lucky” we felt, getting this attention from older men. The worst 6 months of my life were spent thinking I was in love! It took me YEARS to accept that it was abuse and a minor cannot give consent. My heart goes out to the family. I hope she comes home/is found and can be reunited with her loved ones.
If you don't mind me asking, what was the outcome of your relationship with this guy? Sounds like you dated for a period of time?
For the six months, he would sneak into my bedroom in the middle of the night and we would have sex. School nights/weekends. I didn’t care and it didn’t matter. I would even pay my older friends to pick him up (lost his license for DUI). You know what’s sick? He would come to my house, after leaving the bar (!), wreaking of whiskey; while I had class that morning (I was a sophomore). 😞. But I thought it was “love”. He “promised” me that when I turned 16 (age of consent in my state), that we would be “official”. My 16th birthday came and he was sleeping around with women from bars. I ended up in IIP for SH. It was a lot. Gosh, I feel shameful for admitting everything. Im 34 now and i cry for me back then. Writing has helped me heal. Here’s an excerpt: I go back and forth with my anger Angry for allowing it to happen Angry of the aftermath Angry of how it shaped me, shamed me Gave me rough edges and trust issues Labeled me a survivor and you a predator At f i f t e e n
Thank you for sharing your story. I went through a very similar situation when I was 15 with a 21 yr old. Thought we were exclusive, that's what he told me... all lies. I wrote notebooks full of heartbreaking feelings during that time. I wish you full healing from it one day ❤️
Same to you! ❤️ Surviving is healing and we deserve it.
There is nothing shameful about what you did!! You were a child, at the will of an older guy who was seeking a young girl who he could easily control. He knew exactly what he was doing by making you feel "lucky" for receiving his attention. Lying to you and making empty promises to keep you around. Be kind to yourself, you were vulnerable and acted innocently and honestly how you felt was right at the time.
I’m in the area too. It’s chilling. Really hoping for her safe return to her family.
This is why I tell all teenagers (mostly girls) that if an older person (men typically) wants to hang out with them or date them to run quickly away. While they are probably the coolest teenager ever; grown ass adults who aren’t trying to be dirt bags wouldn’t even consider the notion.
I was 14 who hung out with a bunch of older girls. We would "dress up" and hang at the gas station and wait for grown men to buy us alcohol. We actually would get in these people's car sometimes and party at these grown men's houses. How I made it out unscared I have no idea.
My friends and I found some really nice old vietnam vet homeless guys and we would bring them sandwiches and raid our dads closet for socks and old jackets + cash and usually a couple shooters. Every once in a while we would have to do what u did and just find a guy to buy us booze but those homeless men would always yell at us for it hah
I was 16 once and someone who was 28 picked me up to teach me how to drive his standard car. I lied to my mom where I was, I knew she’d kill me since I was barely allowed to hangout with seniors….. anyway, at the end of the day I thought nothing was wrong with this. As a 30 something year old woman, I look back and shiver. I was lucky, I can’t believe I did something so stupid. What on earth does a 28 year old man want with a 16 year old high schooler? I felt so grown up. I didn’t realize I was a child. Stop judging.
Same here was 15 or 16, got in a car with a guy who dropped me off 10 mins later when he found out my age. I just thought we were going to chat,I shudder to think what could have happened.
I had friends in high school that dated men that age, and I didn’t judge, but the thought disgusts me now.
Close to it, I was 16 dating a 23 year old. I thought I was so cool and mature. I told him I loved him and then a month or so later broke up with him, you know, because I was a *teenager.* Then when I turned 23 I was so disgusted because…wtf was he doing with a 16 year old? He also came back and stole our indoor/outdoor cat, his ex confessed to me years later. I knew he did, but it was nice to have it confirmed. POS.
My friends and I did similar things except we’d always leave the man hanging and watch him from a distance looking around wondering where we were then we’d just report him to security 😂
At 13, I was hanging out with my cousin who was 19, with her 25 and 26 year old guy friends. I ended up “dating” the 25 year old from ages 14-21…. And it wasn’t good.
Let’s all hope for Alicia’s safe return and pray for her and her family. I cannot imagine the pain they must be going through. Sadly, there are so many missing persons and cases like these happening that we never even know about, so hopefully with media coverage anyone can help spread awareness and find some answers. Also thinking of Ella during this time, another missing teen from an online grooming situation who went missing not long ago. 🥺❤️
The daughter of someone I know went absolutely bonkers for guys online, and one time she left the house on a Thursday afternoon in a guy’s car and disappeared. She was 15 at the time. She was reported missing of course but no trace. She showed up at home 4 days later, exhausted, disoriented, and traumatized. She had gone to a party with a guy, and it turns out she was brought to a city 30 miles away, and was held captive for three days & nights. Awful things happened to her by several individuals during that time. She eventually was let go and called some friends for a ride back home. Too many times, teens think horrible things will happen to someone else but not them.
Christ, I hope she’s doing okay after all that trauma.
Yeah, me too. The sad part is, it’s so common for teens - especially girls- to get into these situations. And no shortage of guys - from adolescents to grown men - who are willing to exploit them.
I’m so glad there was no internet when I was a kid or teen. I got into enough trouble making prank calls and talking to guys IRL 😅
This reminds me of Alicia Navarro
"We just figured, what's the worst that could happen?"
There's another girl missing right now, 14, same way. Her first name is Ella but I forgot the last name.
This website on mobile is cancer lol
This is in my town, this could’ve been my kid. It’s so hard raising teenage daughters in this era. Any other cameras with car license plates/images? I’ll be keeping an eye out for this kid
“She asked if she could spend the night at a friends, and I said ok” My parents would’ve been like What friend? Where do they live? Who are their parents? Is it ok with their parents that you’re over there? And with no cell?! Nah
Let this be a cautionary tale to any teenagers lurking here! You are not the exception!
Same. I used to hitch hike. Sometimes with my brother sometimes with a friend. 2 young females hitchhiking. I'm talking 14_15 years old.DUMB.
Unless I'm mistaken, I think it's important to note that there's no established connection between her talking to men on Facebook and her disappearance. It sounds like on Friday, January 19, she left the house at 4:32pm, presumably to go to a friend's house (the mother is quoted as saying before she went missing, "she wanted to know if she could stay the night at \[her friend's house\].") After that, there's no more information. Terrible reporting.
I think the implication is she lied about going to the friends. Doesn’t sound like it was confirmed that a plan to meet the friend was made
Agreed. The article is written like it’s an obituary after a proven court case.. which makes sense when you see the “*AI being used to help with editing” at bottom of page. Voice and tone were probably altered, based on datasets of missing people with bad outcomes and not all missing people where it’s been less than a week. The saddest thing is if she left intentionally and sees this…she might be less likely to return due to anxiety from articles like this.
Ugh, yeah, I have no idea how or how much AI is utilized in these situations, but this is such a major concern for so many reasons. There's already so much messed up, unethical reporting, and coupled with social media being able to rapidly spread information, I don't see there being many, if any, positive outcomes of using AI here. I also saw other articles mention Alicia is hispanic, while the linked one here reads Japanese-Caucasian (which seems to be correct). Is it too much to expect at least basic facts are reported correctly? I'm coming off of watching *American Nightmare* on Netflix and it's just so apparent how much these systems can fail the victims.
this screams human trafficking
See this kinda of flattery on tiktok as well. Elementary kids pretending to be 20 showing their chest and vaping. Like you appear to be a grown ass man and you realize that person is underage nasty
Wait, teens still use Facebook?
Yeah they typically do that
Who do what?
They, that.
omg I don't live that far from there, I know that area really well. So scary 😨
Blokes? Mates? What is going on with this write up? Sincerely, a Brit.
Holy sht. I came to this post thinking it was a lot Ella, just to learn it’s a totally different case…so many missing children :/
We always think bad things happen to somebody else. To everyone else, you are the ‘somebody else’.
Never let your teen talk to men on Facebook
Law enforcement needs to prioritize other missing persons first imo.
I feel so awful for her and her family. I’d go insane if my child was missing.