Ypsilanti Township teenager missing; family believes she's with man she met over the Internet
A 17-year-old girl disappeared over the weekend, and her family suspects she's with a man she met over the Internet.
Erica Kennedy was last seen by her older brother around 11 p.m. Saturday night as she was getting into a small blue pickup truck about two doors down from her house, her mother Lizz Bedolla said. She was carrying a backpack.
The brother called after Kennedy to stop, but she got into the passenger side of the truck, which sped off. He did not get a look at who she was with, Bedolla said.
Kennedy’s friends later told her family a man she’s been talking to over the Internet had given her a cell phone a few months ago.
The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department confirmed Kennedy is classified as a runaway.
Anyone with information about Kennedy’s whereabouts is being asked to contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department at 734-971-8400.
Ann Arbor.com will follow up with updates as they become available.
Tina Reed can be reached at tinareed@annarbor.com or follow her on Twitter @treedinaa.
Comments
Laura Bien
Wed, Sep 9, 2009 : 9:30 a.m.
Wow. Scary. My thoughts are with Erica's family. I hope this ends soon, and happily.
halflight
Tue, Sep 8, 2009 : 9:08 p.m.
My prayers are with this young woman's family. If it isn't a federal crime already, custodial interference by means of electronic communication should be a federal felony, so that the full resources of law enforcement are available to find children who are removed from their parents' care by predatory and/or irresponsible adults. This young woman is too inexperienced to realize how dangerous this situation can be. I hope the family is receiving adequate assistance from law enforcement.
angel624
Tue, Sep 8, 2009 : 12:21 p.m.
this is the niece of my best friend. please everyone who reads this please help us find her.. we love her so much. her mom is out of her mind with worry. Erica if you see this please call mom....anyone we love you...:)
mrs_samuelson
Tue, Sep 8, 2009 : 11:53 a.m.
As a close friend of the Bedolla/Kennedy family I ask that everyone please join the Facebook group dedicated to finding Erica. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=157828815782&ref=nf Thank you.
Barb
Tue, Sep 8, 2009 : 11:26 a.m.
I am *so* hoping for a happy ending here. And soon.