Search continues for missing teen

It has been a little over two weeks since 17-year-old Ashley Ryan, a high school senior at Topsail High School went missing. Her parents have spent countless hours these last two weeks posting fliers and searching Wilmington and areas around Florida where she has been sighted, so far without success.

According to her aunt, Pamela Richardson, Ashley went to Mayfaire Cinema 16 in Wilmington on Jan. 31 with three friends and told them she wanted to see a different movie, so made arrangements to meet up with her friends after the movies, around 5:30 p.m. When she did not arrive at the scheduled time, her friends searched for her. The parent, who went to pick the teens up, called her father, Mike Ryan to let him know she never showed up and they searched all over but did not find her. He immediately called Wilmington Police to report his daughter missing.

Based on information obtained by the family through their efforts, Richardson said they believe Ashley stayed in the Wilmington area for a couple of days, and that she walked from Mayfaire to the Juggling Gypsy Café when she left the cinema.

“The Juggling Gypsy was one of her favorite places in Wilmington,” Richardson said.

Richardson went on to explain that a few days passed and another man who saw one of the fliers came forward and said he had given Ashley a ride to the Greyhound bus station on Wed. Jan. 2. He told them she purchased a ticket to Kissimmee Fla. Due to privacy act issues, her parents had to get a court order before they could confirm that she got on a bus to Kissimmee.

Lacy Quehl, Hampstead United Methodist Church’s administrative assistant, has been fielding calls to help out the family and is helping with fundraising efforts to support the family in their search for Ashley.

Quehl said her parents and brother Rob left for Kissimmee Jan. 4, but returned recently without Ashley.

“It was very frustrating for them, because it seemed they were always two days behind her,” Quehl said.

The Wilmington Police Department did not issue a media alert to request assistance in publicizing Ashley’s disappearance until Jan. 5. The alert stated: “Detectives have confirmed that within the last few days she boarded a bus bound for Kissimmee….” Local stations and newspapers ran stories and pictures regarding her disappearance and requested anyone with information call Wilmington Police Detective Mike Overton.

On Jan. 7 the Wilmington Police Department issued a media update. The update stated: “The parents of Ashley Marie Ryan called the Wilmington Police Department today (Monday) to report that there has been confirmed sightings of Ashley in Kissimmee, FL. They now have requested assistance of the Kissimmee Police Department.

“The good news is that we now know Ashley is a runaway and that she was not abducted from the movie theater where she was last seen in Wilmington.

“Thanks to all who helped publicize her disappearance.”

Richardson said the family was extremely upset to see that as a result of that update, local news stations announced, via news tickers, that the missing teen had been found.

“She was not found, she was seen, and she was not home,” Richardson said. Richardson said it made the family feel like the search was over.

The Ryan family believes she has been using assumed names to apply for jobs and identify herself.

Her mother, Julie Ryan, has been in touch with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement about opening up a case, according to “Doug,” at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement who said he is not allowed to give out his last name and title. He explained that she must fill out the reporting form which he said he had just e-mailed the mother, and he said that they also require the originating state agency to issue a request to them to open a case.

Once this is done, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will generate a missing child flyer which will appear on their Web site.

“We’re mainly an entity to pass on information, though we will assist any agency that requests our assistance,” Doug said.

According to Public Affairs Officer Lucy Crockett, Ashley was in a local homeless shelter in Kissimmee and a staff member there asked the local police department to check on her. The officer talked to her, but she apparently she gave a false name so they did not realize at the time that they were looking for her.

Wilmington Police Detective Mike Overton, the detective assigned to the case, received word that Ashley has been spotted further south, in Dade County in the town of Aventura on Jan. 9, according to Crockett.

“Detective Overton has been in touch with various Florida law enforcement agencies throughout the past two weeks,” Crockett wrote in an e-mail. “Ashley also is listed in the National Criminal Information Center as a runaway.”

Her mother just wants to find her.

“We haven’t had any sightings of her since last Wednesday,” Julie said.

She said she does not know why Ashley ran away.

“She’s very independent — an I can do it myself kind of kid — I don’t want any help — she was failing a class and was feeling pressure from that…knowing she would have to take it over…I just don’t know, plus decisions about going to college…and of course we worry about her mental health, she’s been using assumed names.”

Her aunt is very worried about how naive her niece is.

“She’s 17 and very naive, Richardson said. “She’s a kid at risk, that’s all I can tell you,” Richardson said. “Our whole family, nothing will ever be the same (without her).”

Richardson said Ashley had friends in many places including Jacksonville. She hopes anyone with information will come forward and help the family get Ashley back home.

Anyone with information about Ashley is asked to call Wilmington Police Detective Overton at 910-341-4619.

The National Runaway Switchboard also accepts anonymous and confidential calls at 1-800-786-2929.

Contact Topsail area reporter Suzanne Ulbrich at sulbrich@freedomenc.com or 910-353-1171 Ext. 8466. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.