Search continues for missing Pa. daycare worker

Authorities are continuing their search for a Pennsylvania daycare worker who has been missing since she left her job on Friday.

State police this morning had no updates on the search for 33-year-old Jessica Padgett of Whitehall Township in Lehigh County. Padgett was last seen leaving her job at Duck Duck Goose Child Care in Northampton Borough at about 1 p.m. Friday.

Padgett's vehicle, a white Subaru Outback, was later found in a local store's parking lot.

Family members and neighbors told local news outlets that Padgett married her boyfriend of eight years in September. She has two children and one stepchild, and those who know her were flummoxed by her disappearance.

"She loves her children, works at daycare, and would never leave children, especially her own," neighbor Jim Wilkins told WFMZ Allentown.

Padgett's sister, Kristi Davis, told the Lehigh Valley Express Times that Padgett had contacted Davis through social media the afternoon she was last seen.

In a Facebook message to Davis, who is due to give birth next week, Padgett wrote, "I want to see my niece being born."

Since Padgett went missing, friends, relatives and strangers have been posting information and messages of support on a Facebook group called "Help find Jessica Padgett." People have created flyers to share on social media and distribute around the area.

Officials described Padgett as about 5 feet 2 inches tall and having brown hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing gray sweatpants and a black sweatshirt that read "Duck Duck Goose" on the front and "Staff" on the back.

Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 610-861-2026.