Thursday, May 12, 2011

Sarah Townsend Mystery: 'It's baffling': Searchers stumped in hunt for missing girl after boyfriend finds unlocked car with her purse and mobile phone

This pretty teenager went missing on the way to school, before her purse and mobile phone were found by her boyfriend in an unlocked car. But searchers have found no other signs of the girl.

Sarah Townsend, 18, left her home in Burlington County, New Jersey, on Monday morning to go to Allentown High School in Monmouth County but never arrived.

Almost 100 police officers and volunteers have been searching for the 5'4" girl and have focussed on Green Acres Park in Burlington where her vehicle was found in a car park.

‘What is so baffling is there was no blood in the car or drag marks outside,’ Burlington Township Police Lieutenant Bruce Painter told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

‘It could be as simple as she walked away. But we just don't know.’ He added: 'Everything leads us to believe she’s alive.'

The car park where her vehicle was found is next to a pond popular with runners and fishermen, and the couple had often been to the park together.

Sarah’s parents have offered $10,000 for information leading to her safe return and said they thought nothing was wrong when she left for school on Monday. Read More