Post by cassina on Jul 29, 2005 14:50:23 GMT -5
June 21, 2005 - Top Story
Where is ‘Gabby?'
By KELLY RUHOFF
Staff Reporter
Nobody is giving up finding a developmentally delayed teen who disappeared over a month ago. Still, fears for her safety are mounting.
Gabriella “Gabby” Mercedes, 17, near the Silvana area of Stanwood vanished after her third-period class at Stanwood High School (SHS) May 11.
“We're looking for help,” said Snohomish County Sheriff's Office detective Rich Niebusch.
No new leads have surfaced on the case since the first week, and neither of the original leads “panned out,” said Niebusch.
Gabby is described by her mother, Mary Mercedes, as having the mental capacity of a 10- to 12-year-old, according to school testing, and the competence of a 7- to 8-year-old by her pediatrician.
“She's not with the program 100 percent,” said Mercedes. “But she wants to be like everybody else.”
Gabby was enrolled in the Life Skills program at SHS and as part of her Individual Educational Plan, she was on full escort from the time she arrived on the school bus, including escorts in between each class.
The mandatory escort was the result of Gabby not showing up to class because she was busy socializing, said her mother. On the day she disappeared, she was escorted to her third period class as usual but was allowed to go to the restroom by herself before class, said Mercedes.
Initially, it was thought Gabby might have left the campus that day with either 18-year-old Ashley Coty, who is not a student at SHS, yet hangs out close to the campus, according to the girl's mother. She was also suspected of leaving with 18- to 20-year-old James Owen, which has since been put to rest.
Gabby had been known to leave with either of them without permission in the past, said Mercedes.
The weekend before her disappearance she had been reported as a runaway by her parents, but turned up late Sunday night, delivered to the Wal-Mart parking lot in Marysville by Coty, said Mercedes. Earlier that weekend, Coty had denied knowing where Gabby was when questioned over the phone by her parents, Julio and Mary Mercedes.
Gabby was warned after the weekend incident she was not to see or talk to Coty anymore.
“The child is extremely, extremely naive,” said her mother.
They banned her from the phone, but they caught Gabby the night before her disappearance talking to Coty.
Because Coty had just turned 18 and was free from the foster-care system, Mercedes is afraid Coty took their oldest of four children out of the state.
“All I know is I have a kid on the loose,” said Mercedes.
Coty has family living in Florida, and investigators working on the case are in contact with them, but the pair has not shown up, according to Niebusch.
Meanwhile, the Mercedes are beginning to fear the worst. They have handed out posters of Gabby — described as a white female, 5-foot 7-inches tall, 150 pounds, with brown eyes and shoulder- length, reddish-brown hair — to homeless shelters in Everett and the Greyhound bus station in Everett, among other sites. She is also listed with the Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
She has a thorough knowledge of orca whales and recently missed a large stock show date, where she was going to show the pig she had raised. Her pig and outfit were all ready for the big day.
“She was so psyched up about doing this thing,” said her mother. “She had no reason to take off.”
She also missed her birthday, and gifts are left scattered on her bed. The birthday checks have been put into her bank account, which Gabby has no access to, said her mother.
“I can't understand it. No one has seen her,” said Mercedes. “It's like she vanished.”
The public may call the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office tip line at: 425-388-3845 with any information on the whereabouts of Gabriella Mercedes. Reporter Kelly Ruhoff: 360-629-8066 (ext. 106) or kruhoff@scnews.com.
Where is ‘Gabby?'
By KELLY RUHOFF
Staff Reporter
Nobody is giving up finding a developmentally delayed teen who disappeared over a month ago. Still, fears for her safety are mounting.
Gabriella “Gabby” Mercedes, 17, near the Silvana area of Stanwood vanished after her third-period class at Stanwood High School (SHS) May 11.
“We're looking for help,” said Snohomish County Sheriff's Office detective Rich Niebusch.
No new leads have surfaced on the case since the first week, and neither of the original leads “panned out,” said Niebusch.
Gabby is described by her mother, Mary Mercedes, as having the mental capacity of a 10- to 12-year-old, according to school testing, and the competence of a 7- to 8-year-old by her pediatrician.
“She's not with the program 100 percent,” said Mercedes. “But she wants to be like everybody else.”
Gabby was enrolled in the Life Skills program at SHS and as part of her Individual Educational Plan, she was on full escort from the time she arrived on the school bus, including escorts in between each class.
The mandatory escort was the result of Gabby not showing up to class because she was busy socializing, said her mother. On the day she disappeared, she was escorted to her third period class as usual but was allowed to go to the restroom by herself before class, said Mercedes.
Initially, it was thought Gabby might have left the campus that day with either 18-year-old Ashley Coty, who is not a student at SHS, yet hangs out close to the campus, according to the girl's mother. She was also suspected of leaving with 18- to 20-year-old James Owen, which has since been put to rest.
Gabby had been known to leave with either of them without permission in the past, said Mercedes.
The weekend before her disappearance she had been reported as a runaway by her parents, but turned up late Sunday night, delivered to the Wal-Mart parking lot in Marysville by Coty, said Mercedes. Earlier that weekend, Coty had denied knowing where Gabby was when questioned over the phone by her parents, Julio and Mary Mercedes.
Gabby was warned after the weekend incident she was not to see or talk to Coty anymore.
“The child is extremely, extremely naive,” said her mother.
They banned her from the phone, but they caught Gabby the night before her disappearance talking to Coty.
Because Coty had just turned 18 and was free from the foster-care system, Mercedes is afraid Coty took their oldest of four children out of the state.
“All I know is I have a kid on the loose,” said Mercedes.
Coty has family living in Florida, and investigators working on the case are in contact with them, but the pair has not shown up, according to Niebusch.
Meanwhile, the Mercedes are beginning to fear the worst. They have handed out posters of Gabby — described as a white female, 5-foot 7-inches tall, 150 pounds, with brown eyes and shoulder- length, reddish-brown hair — to homeless shelters in Everett and the Greyhound bus station in Everett, among other sites. She is also listed with the Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
She has a thorough knowledge of orca whales and recently missed a large stock show date, where she was going to show the pig she had raised. Her pig and outfit were all ready for the big day.
“She was so psyched up about doing this thing,” said her mother. “She had no reason to take off.”
She also missed her birthday, and gifts are left scattered on her bed. The birthday checks have been put into her bank account, which Gabby has no access to, said her mother.
“I can't understand it. No one has seen her,” said Mercedes. “It's like she vanished.”
The public may call the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office tip line at: 425-388-3845 with any information on the whereabouts of Gabriella Mercedes. Reporter Kelly Ruhoff: 360-629-8066 (ext. 106) or kruhoff@scnews.com.