A mother in Wellington is pleading for help in finding her missing teenage daughter. Veronica Hayden Dininger, 17, was last seen leaving her house almost a week ago, on July 21.
Saturday marks one week since Veronica was last seen by her parents. Jessica McClellan told News 5 that this was not the first time her daughter ran away from home, but this time it's different.
“I can most certainly say it was a runaway situation. Most certainly in the beginning I honestly believe that I, I don't know now if there's foul play involved," McClellan said. "And that's what is really tearing me up."
Veronica's stepfather, Martin McClellan, said that late Saturday night and into early Sunday, July 21, Veronica approached her mom.
"She came downstairs, she said, 'Mom, do you want me to let the dogs out?''' McClellan said.
Jessica McClellan told her daughter, "Yes, that would be great. Thank you so much."
It would be the last thing she would say to her mom.
"Every day it goes by, it gets more dangerous, and we don't think she realizes that,” Martin McClellan said.
The couple says the teen got in trouble just a couple of days before. Her parents said he had her phone and vehicle privileges removed on July 14, but on July 19, they found a phone she had hidden.
Veronica was seen on security camera video letting the dogs out and carrying a large bag onto the porch.
“Her back is to the camera. So I don't know if she's got something in her hands. Like maybe another device where she's texting and like, Hey, I'm outside or I don't, I don't know, I can only I can only imagine," Jessica McClellan said.
After two minutes, Veronica is seen looking off towards the northeast corner of the property. She then picks up her duffel bag, throws it over her shoulder and walks off.
The couple said the teen logged into Snapchat multiple times; they say it's to confuse investigators and muddy the waters in locating her.
"Well, we think that's not just by chance. Right? Yeah. So (was) someone was involved in that idea?" her mom said. "I don't think she would come up with that on her own.”
Her family said they have reason to believe someone may have picked her up.
The Lorain County Sheriff's Office wouldn't say if they believe the girl is in danger, but they did say they are following every lead.
Veronica was last seen wearing gray sweatpants, a gray or light blue crew-neck sweatshirt, and white Nike high-tops with a black swoosh.
Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call the Lorain County Sheriff's Office at 440-329-3710.
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