Family takes to social media for help as police search river for missing teen
Pamela Flores, 14, left for school at Frankford High on Tuesday and never returned.
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AS DIVERS SEARCHED the Delaware River for signs of Frankford High freshman Pamela Flores yesterday, her friends and family continued to flood Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with information about her, in the hopes of bringing her home safely.
Pamela, 14, vanished on Tuesday after leaving for school at 8:15 a.m. When she didn't return home in the afternoon, her parents went looking for her.
Pamela's family searched the area around the school, on Oxford Avenue near Harrison Street, and filed a police report that night.
Authorities did not put out an Amber Alert because "there was no evidence that she was abducted," said Pamela's sister, Alba Flores, 17. She said the family recently moved to Philadelphia from the Bronx, N.Y.
Police found Pamela's backpack and cellphone near the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, a little more than 2 miles from Frankford High, Alba said.
Divers searched the Delaware River yesterday, she said, but found no sign of Pamela.
"They said the tide was too high," Alba said of the marine units searching the water.
The search of the river came after the Flores family was shown a video on Wednesday in which a person dressed in dark clothing appears to jump from the bridge.
"It's kind of hard to actually tell," Alba said. "In all honesty, it could be her."
Alba and her cousin, Mailan Monegro, have been actively posting information about Pamela's disappearance on social media.
"#FindPamelaF Keep her in your prayers," ended one of Monegro's Facebook posts on Wednesday.
Pamela has never run away before, and her family said she has never shown signs of wanting to take her own life.
"She's such a happy girl," Alba said. "She wouldn't do this. It's not like her."
Pamela is 4-11, about 128 pounds with long, black curly hair. She was wearing a gray shirt with the school name, a plain back sweatshirt, black pants and black Nike sneakers with a silver logo. Anyone who has seen Pamela or knows her whereabouts, is asked to call 9-1-1.
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