BAKER — A mother’s desperate search continues for her missing 13-year-old daughter, who vanished Monday night. Confirmed sightings place her at St. Vincent de Paul during their Tuesday feeding time and later that same day at the Greyhound bus station on Florida Boulevard in Baton Rouge.
The girl’s mother spoke through tears and determination as she walked along Florida Blvd., going door-to-door asking business owners to review their surveillance footage.
“So what me and my daughter are doing right now is walking Florida Blvd. trying to see where we can see other cameras that may have been able to pick up something,” she said. “We’re sorting through the leads.”
The Night She Vanished
The mom says her daughter disappeared from their yard late Monday night.
“My dad heard something, saw her in the yard and took off running. She dropped her bag, and then by the time he ran and got in his car, he said it was like she vanished.”
The investigation took a chilling turn when it was discovered that the girl had been communicating with strangers online.
“She’s not allowed to have technology or social media, but it seems like she got a hold of one of those Wi-Fi-only tablets and had social media. She was being groomed on social media,” she said. “I did go through the tablet, and you can see some people that were waiting for her. They were like, ‘Baby, where are you?’ It’s a whole bunch of weirdness. This is a bit organized.”
“They got the wrong child this time.”
The girl is an A-B student at Jehovah Jireh Academy, known for her bright spirit and strong faith.
“Friday we served at the BOLD event at Bethany. She served — she didn’t just attend. We were there from like 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.,” she recalled. “She has a good foundation, a strong community. They literally took the wrong child this time.”
Faith Unbroken | “Reach out. I’m coming for you.”
Despite her heartbreak, the mom says her faith is unshaken.
“Whether she thinks she’s in control or these people think they’re in control, I know my God is in control,” she said. “I found a little note in her room that said Matthew 17:20 — ‘If I can command a mountain to move and it move, I can demand my daughter be returned.’ It was like a little God wink.”
The community has rallied behind the family. A prayer service at their church was dedicated to the girl on Wednesday night, with friends, teachers, and neighbors joining together to pray for her safe return.
“Everybody knows her, and everybody loves her,” she said. “She has a solid foundation. She hears the Holy Spirit. If she gets an opportunity to reach out, I want her to know — do it. Be safe. I’m coming for you.”
A message to those who took her…
To those who may be holding her daughter, she had a direct message:
“It is in everyone’s best interest for my child to be returned intact and unharmed. They got the wrong child this time.”
Baker Police confirm they are aware of the situation and are actively investigating leads.
“We’ll do what we’ve got to do to get my baby home safe,” the mom said.
Baker Police search for the missing teen and suspected kidnapper
Officers said she is 13 years old and is described as 5-foot-1, 102 pounds, with brown eyes and brown/black hair, and has an eczema patch on her right leg.
Police believe she is with an unknown man whose image was captured on surveillance video. Officers said he was wearing a camo hat and driving a dark gray four-door Nissan Sentra along Florida Boulevard.
Anyone who has seen her or has information about her whereabouts is urged to contact Baker Police immediately at 225-775-6000.
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