Amber alert issued for missing teens who posted ‘help’ on Snapchat before disappearing

Bevan Hurley and Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
·2 min read
Amber alert has been issued in Texas for Emilee Solomon and another teenager (McGregor Police Department )
Amber alert has been issued in Texas for Emilee Solomon and another teenager (McGregor Police Department )

Texas officials have issued an Amber Alert for two teenage girls who were last seen near Waco last Wednesday after the police were sent a screenshot of a Snapchat story with the message “help”.

The McGregor Police Department appealed for help to locate Aysha Lynn Cross and Emiliee Solomon, both aged 14.

“Law enforcement officials believe these children to be in grave or immediate danger,” the alert stated.

Aysha is described as 5’2” (1.57m), 105 lbs (48kg), with black hair and hazel eyes, while Emiliee is also 5’2” (1.57m), 105 lbs (48kg), and has black hair and hazel eyes.

They were last seen around 3pm on 29 June near 1410 West 7th Street and the 900 block of West 10th Street in McGregor, Texas.

On 2 July, McGregor police lieutenant Ron McCurry reportedly said the disappearance of the girls did not meet the criteria for amber alerts.

However, he had noted that the situation was grim because in most such situations, young people return home safely within eight to 12 hours.

Police upgraded the case on Monday and issued an alert after they were sent a screenshot of Aysha’s Snapchat story with the message “help”.

“We are following all leads and doing everything we can to find these young girls,” Lt McCurry told KWTX, adding that they didn’t have much information on the missing girls.

The girls became best friends instantly after getting together just before school ended for the summer, Emilee’s stepmother Sara Dunn said.

Emilee reportedly spent Wednesday night at Aysha’s house and asked if she could stay longer. Later, she called home to say an uncle was picking her up but that did not occur, Ms Dunn added.

She said her daughter was dropped off at Bewley Park about midnight on Thursday and was likely picked up by someone.

“I want her to know that everything is OK,” Ms Dunn told the television station. “It doesn’t matter what she has done. I want to tell her to just come home. We love you no matter what. Our door is open. Come home.”

Aysha’s mother Shannon Valles and Ms Dunn have been running from pillar to post to find their daughters, including trying to correct misinformation put out on social media.