GUILTY NJ - Kara Alongi, 16, charged in abduction hoax, 30 Sept 2012

[nursebeeme]

The search is still on for missing teen Kara Alongi who posted a chilling Twitter message that went viral and launched several search parties.
Sgt. Vincent Concina said this morning that the 16-year-old Clark resident is "still listed as missing" and that there were no developments in the overnight search efforts.
Police have contacted Alongi's parents and "made them aware that we're still searching and if they have any info they can call us," he said.

http://www.nj.com/union/index.ssf/2012/10/clark_police_say_search_still.html#incart_river_default

 

[eileenhawkeye]

I'm wondering why MSM hasn't picked it up yet. Well, we've had Today Show, MSN Australia, and a few local sites. But the national media has largely ignored it. Why? We are talking about a pretty, middle-class white teenager who was possibly kidnapped from her home, who posted to "call 911" on Twitter, and whose disappearance went viral. I bet everything that the national media KNOWS about this case, but for some reason, they are holding back. Are they waiting for more confirmation? But you would think that just the fact that she posted on Twitter "call 911" and the tweet blew up would be a story in itself....

 

[WillenFan21]

HLN has picked it up. Christi Paul posted the link to the NY Daily News. Prayers that she is found safe.

 

[nursebeeme]

Alongi is now listed as missing.
Police told NBC New York they don't believe Alongi is in any physical danger.


Read more: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/local_...-hashtag-cause-global-attention#ixzz283Mbqq1d

another snip:

NBC 4 New York reports police responded to Alongi's home Sunday evening. When the media outlet called her home for comment, someone quickly answered and said "no comment."

Read more: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/local_...-hashtag-cause-global-attention#ixzz283MiC23c

well, that is interesting (bbm)

 

[NJGuy]

I'm not too far from the area, about a 30 min drive from Clark. If people are interested, NJ.com is closest to the case and have an ear to the ground there. That's where I have been getting the most accurate, up to date info. With that said, this is very, very bizarre. Something is going on here, there have been numerous fake twitter accounts set up for her, that some media sites have attributed to her. (Including NJ.com at one point, has since been changed)

Police have said she's not in physical danger, and what seems to be most telling to me, is that Police said they have been in contact with family, and family should come forward with any info they may have. Reading in to that, it seems family and police are not exactly on the same page here.

 

[NJGuy]

At this stage, (this is merely a guess), sounds like parents know what's really going on, sounds like a stunt/hoax, and now she is hiding somewhere or run away for a bit. Police also don't seem to believe she was abducted in any way

 

[eileenhawkeye]

HLN has picked it up. Christi Paul posted the link to the NY Daily News. Prayers that she is found safe.

But that doesn't mean HLN has picked it up. There's nothing on their website, on CNN.com, and I don't believe they've mentioned it on TV. The fact that she used a link to the NY Daily News, instead of the media outlet she works for, confirms that for me. Christi posts a lot of "personal" things on FB. Now, I wouldn't be surprised if HLN picks it up before the day is over.

 

[nursebeeme]

UPDATE, 8:39 a.m.: In a phone interview with Patch, Clark Police Chief Alan Scherb said that police are now certain Alongi left her home voluntarily and no abduction took place. She is still missing.

"She is currently still missing, but we are now confident she left voluntarily," Scherb told Patch. "No abduction, no foul play. We are now investigating this as a missing runaway juvenile."

Scherb says police are continuing to persue some leads they found over the night as to Alongi's path and whereabouts, but could not reveal what those leads were as of yet, only stating that they are now certain she left voluntarily.

Scherb says Alongi has not contacted police or her family.

http://clark.patch.com/articles/kar...before-vanishing-still-missing-monday-morning

 

[NJGuy]

One more thing, Police now classify it as a runaway, and if you saw her original tweet, it didn't come from a mobile app or her phone. She was on her computer when initially tweeted it

 

[NJGuy]

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/10/clark_teenager_is_a_runaway_po.html#incart_river_default

Police found a call from her block at a similar time to a taxi company at her address at the same time as the tweet. Cab driver said he dropped off a girl with similar description at Rahway Train Station

 

[nursebeeme]

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/10/clark_teenager_is_a_runaway_po.html#incart_river_default

Police found a call from her block at a similar time to a taxi company

and a snip from your link:

Police then found that someone called a local taxi company asking for a car at Alongi's address around the same time as the tweet, and a cab driver confirmed that he dropped off a person matching the girl's description at the Rahway train station.

 

[KaylynnCouture]

This confirms what I thought from the beginning- she ran away. However, I hope police and the public don't write this off as "well she'll just come home soon". She could still be in danger or meet with danger if she isn't careful.

Praying for you Kara. Do the right thing here.

 

[nursebeeme]

headline now reads:
"tweet was a hoax, police say"

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/10/clark_teenager_is_a_runaway_po.html

 

[eileenhawkeye]

NJ.com says it's a hoax: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/10/clark_teenager_is_a_runaway_po.html

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

This confirms what I thought from the beginning- she ran away. However, I hope police and the public don't write this off as "well she'll just come home soon". She could still be in danger or meet with danger if she isn't careful.

Praying for you Kara. Do the right thing here.

And... Her behavior (faking intruder) implies some counseling may be needed.

 

[KaylynnCouture]

NJ.com says it's a hoax: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/10/clark_teenager_is_a_runaway_po.html

The tweet may have been fake, but she's still missing. I just really hope the media doesn't forget about her and write this off.

Hopefully the train station has cameras so LE can see if she left with anyone, and hopefully they check her computer/phone records to see if she has been chatting with anyone online.

 

[eileenhawkeye]

It bothers me that this case (if it's a hoax) is probably more well-known than most missing person cases are. Tweets are made about missing persons all the time, and they don't "blow up" and go viral like Kara's case has. People get more worked up over this being a hoax than about other missing persons who were actually kidnapped.

 

[bdawk20]

One more thing, Police now classify it as a runaway, and if you saw her original tweet, it didn't come from a mobile app or her phone. She was on her computer when initially tweeted it

That's a good catch! I thought she tweeted from her phone and pictured her hiding somewhere with the phone tweeting instead of calling 911 to avoid being heard.....
This one has that hinky, "something funny's going on" feel to it.

 

[WillenFan21]

Wow!! Kids today..SMH

 

[nursebeeme]

And... Her behavior (faking intruder) implies some counseling may be needed.

I agree. If this turns out to be what police are saying it is (re: fake tweet and she ran away) something is wrong. If you are trying to run away before your parents get home from a sporting event why tweet call 911? Makes no sense. Maybe it was a joke gone wrong (re: maybe she was joking and now is afraid to come home)

just a thought

Hope she comes home safe and sound today.