After finding out a 16-year-old girl may be in danger, Fairfax County police detectives are asking the public for help finding the Mount Vernon High School student who has been missing for more than a month.
Angelica Flores of Alexandria was first reported as missing on Feb. 17 after leaving a juvenile facility called Shelter Care. She was supposed to stay at the facility while waiting for a court proceeding and left without permission.
She is affiliated with gang members and associates of gang members, a police report said.
Flores is 4 feet 11 inches tall, about 110 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair, possibly dyed red.
"We want to find her and bring her home," Fairfax police officer Reem Awad said.
More than 250 juveniles, including 184 kids thought to have run away, have been reported as missing in Fairfax County this year. One of those missing young people, Jholie Moussa, also attended Mount Vernon High School before she was found killed.
Those cases do not appear connected, officials said, but local lawmakers questioned whether authorities should investigate missing juvenile cases differently.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
"I have concerns whether people in different communities are treated the same when situations like this arise," state Senator Scott Surovell said.
Police say they have guidelines but there are too many missing juveniles to do a public appeal for each individual.
"We don't put every one out unless it rises to some sort of level of danger," a police spokesperson said.
Anyone who has seen Flores, or has any information about her whereabouts, is asked to please call Detective Craddock at 703-223-4046. Tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1000 if their information leads to an arrest.
