Austin on Edge: 13-Year-Old Girl Missing for Weeks, Search Intensifies

First response cars at a crime scene are equipped with police lights.Photo byAjax9/Getty Images/iStockphoto

The search for 13-year-old Daela Diaz in Central Texas continues, as she remains missing after almost a month. The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) issued an urgent alert regarding her disappearance, stating that she was last seen in Austin on December 8, 2023.

Described as 5 feet, 2 inches tall, and weighing 194 pounds, Diaz has dyed blonde hair with brown roots and brown eyes, as per CBS Austin. Photos shared by NCMEC in their alert depict her appearance. While she hails from Austin, authorities believe she might still be in the area or could have travelled anywhere within Central Texas or beyond.

However, specific details regarding where Diaz went missing in Austin were not disclosed in the NCMEC's information.

The NCMEC has urged anyone with information about Diaz or her whereabouts to contact them immediately at 1-800-THE-LOST or reach out to the Austin Police Department at 512-974-2000, as stated in their communication.

This concerning situation follows the disappearance of another teenager, 15-year-old Kate Mathews, from Austin before the holidays. Mathews and her boyfriend were located on December 22, one week after their parents reported them missing from their high school within the Austin Independent School District. They had allegedly skipped school and disappeared together.