The North Port Police Department in Florida reported a teen missing on Thursday. 16-year-old, Desirae Malava-Ortiz left her home by “unknown means of travel” and was wearing torn jeans, an unknown color sweatshirt, and white shoes.
Police said they checked Malava-Ortiz’s boyfriend’s residence and her place of employment but could not locate the teen at either location. If “North Port” looks familiar to you, that’s because the same department is trying to locate fugitive Brian Laundrie in Carlton forest reserve in Florida.
Teen, Desirae Malava-Ortiz, Left Her Home on Roxbury Circle on Thursday & Has Not Been Seen Since.
“Family indicates she was recently in the Venice/Nokomis area,” authorities added.
Police suggested that the teen may be with an 18-year-old named Tyler, who drives a grey, two-door, Honda sedan.
The alert follows the news of Gabby Petito‘s disappearance that was reported on Sept. 11. Petito’s remains were later found in Wyoming. As Mamas Uncut reported, her fiance Brian Laundrie, returned to their North Port home on Sept. 1 traveling in Petito’s van without her. The couple had embarked on a cross-country road trip over the summer.
North Port police are still trying to track down Laundrie after he, too, was reported missing on Sept. 17, though his family last saw him on Sept. 13.
RELATED: Officials Find Remnants of a Campsite in Closed Florida Reserve as They Search for Brian Laundrie
Conflicting reports are making it difficult for authorities to locate Laundrie who was spotted by a hiker on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina on Oct. 3. Still, authorities are searching the Carlton reserve as it is a familiar place for Laundrie who is an avid hiker in the reserve.
A federal arrest warrant has been issued for Laundrie for debit card fraud after he allegedly used a card without the permission of Petito. Multiple searches are underway to find the person of interest.
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