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A person believed to be Kara Alongi is seen with a suitcase at a transit station in Rahway, N.J.
Police have released a surveillance photo of a young woman they believe to be the runaway 16-year-old New Jersey girl who set off a Twitter firestorm after she apparently falsely indicated an intruder was in her home and disappeared.
Kara Alongi, 16, was seen on a security camera at the NJ Transit Rahway train station in Union County, holding a backpack and a large purse. Police say she purchased a train ticket to New York Penn Station Sunday evening and authorities are working with NJ Transit to review available station video.
Alongi gained thousands of followers after asking people on Twitter to call 911 Sunday because an intruder was in her home and then vanishing. People re-tweeted her message and #helpfindkara trended on the social network.
Investigators later said it appeared Alongi, of Clark, had voluntarily called a taxi company and gotten a ride to the Rahway train station, which police say is confirmed by the surveillance photo. Police do not believe any foul play was involved, but stress Alongi remains missing and her family wants her home.
"Kara might feel that she will be in trouble if she comes home after this scare and causing a panic," Clark Police Chief Alan Scherb said Monday as the extensive search got underway. "At this point, all everyone cares about is seeing her safe and at her house where she belongs."
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Twitter users worldwide tweeted messages of good will @KaraAlongi Sunday night as her initial post asking for help circulated. Many said they were frightened to think about what could have happened to her.
Others were skeptical about her pleas for help, pointing out a Tweet that allegedly popped up on Alongi's account that said: "Why is everyone saying I'm missing? I was jkin haha" and was deleted a short time later.
Police: No foul play in missing NJ teen Kara Alongi case
When NBC 4 New York called the missing girl's home, someone quickly answered "no comment" and hung up. No one answered the door.
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For Carly Martin, a Rutgers sophomore who followed the tweets Sunday night, it was more than disappointing to find out someone just a few years younger would take advantage of a social media site in that way.
"That's just ridiculous," Martin said. "You shouldn't be making a joke out of that when people are actually missing."
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Leave a Comment:
So what.She'll be hooking in a week.
Can you say..attention whore?
I'm just curious, from personal experience, how a 16 year old can have enough money to do that. Then again I've never taken a taxi or a train anywhere so I wouldn't know the approximate costs... not to mention you'd still need food, etc.
@ellisDtripp You think it will take that long?
She should have taken a Greyhound bus as nobody cares where those criminals go. Decent detective work here and you have to give them credit.
...and then no one ever believed her about anything ever.
the end.
I'm hopeful that she didn't run away to be with somebody that she met online.She's young and at that age they are not thinking like a mature adult.Her twitter hoax was not the right thing to do but I wish her no harm.
@btj89 the train from rahway to nyc is like $9. the cab would've cost more.
I really hope this girl comes forward. her parents must be frantic.
When they get her back home if they do they should take a good limber switch and wear her little ass out with it.
Okiciz... The johns will wear her little ass out.
So this is what teens with no self esteem do now! They want attention???? So stage an abduction on Tweet@!$%# and get attention a followers??? Well, I guess you know the old saying (from my father)...you want attention, I'll give some attention. And then beat my ass !! The end is ... OK... I have had enough attention (Reminder !!).
"Kara might feel that she will be in trouble if she comes home after this scare and causing a panic," Clark Police Chief Alan Scherb said Monday as the extensive search got underway"
------ She should feel that way. She is in trouble when they find her.
I'm stunned she got a ride in a taxi, she strikes me as a short bus rider. Not to insult those with special needs...just sayin.
Spellchecker you have hit the proverbial nail on it's head..................quite a quote from the Police Chief kind of pointing out the obvious.
Kid, go home. If you're a typical angsty little magpie attention span kid, please go home - people are missing you, they will be overjoyed to see you, and will totally forgive you. They will help you through your growing pains, I promise. If you're getting harmed at home - people will help you. Go home now or you will quite probably get seriously harmed by someone who will use you to satisfy their own sick needs. As a dad of three little girls, I am sincerely hoping you get home safe. Please go home.
I was going to say the same thing. Please go home kido. Safety is at home. Not out there in the dark alleyway.
you guys are right but i would still have a word or two for her and all access to $$ would be locked tightly.
quite likely spoiled.
it is hard to talk to teenagers they do not see any danger I used to tell my young grandson to stay away that somone might try to catch him he said no I won't let them I will run away u just could not tell him any thing still can't but he is learning that life is not so easy on his own I gusse it isn't quit as hard for boys as it is girls but it is still dangerous
Glad it's a hoax because if she could Tweet "Call 911" when she could have called 911, I would have seriously questions our youths logical decision making abilities. ;)
Some of our youth------NOT all of our youth--------stupid kids grow up to be stupid adults, period!!!
Decades old story only the 'tweet' is different. I agree with the above posts, go home, the streets are really mean today.
I like the police saying that all anyone wants is her to be safe at home.. Sure, the minute they get their hands on her she WILL be in trouble for faking a break in. I wish the police would tell it like it is, or in this case, how it will be when they get their hands on her.
how it SHOULD BE when they get their hands on her. If you want to run away than do it. She just wanted "followers".
Doubt if there will be any charges as she didn't call 911 herself and the case is a missing child case, so police would have had to get involve anyhow.
Gotta wonder what's going on in her life to make her do something so dumb-stupid-idiotic-moronic. Choose you favorite. Go home kid, life's tough out there.
The problem is if things at home are worse, and that's her cry for help.
She probably had a zit. Or her parents wouldn't buy her a new car.
Jerry in Scranton, PA:
Teenagers don't need anything going on in their lives to do something stupid. That's why I oppose unreasonable punishments like Life in Prison w/o Parole for their decisions/mistakes.
I suspect she is just trying to grow up faster than time. Because this happens so much, I wonder if we as a country should reconsider the age at which a person is considered an adult.
It is my understanding that Jews have a ceremony to mark the passage into adulthood at age 13. I wonder why?
There is a huge difference between running away with a fake tweet and the murder or rape that earns life without parole. Both are bad choices but some crimes deserve life without parole even if the offender is 13.
I've heard it suggested that signs of maturity - good grades, lack of police record, etc. should be the determining factors as to when a kid is legally considered an adult. They could apply for legal adult status and submit the evidence, with signatures from parents or teachers, to obtain recognition of their maturity at an earlier age than the law allows. Perhaps the legal age of adulthood should be 21, but kids can begin applying as early as 16. I actually know a woman who had to obtain legal emancipation from her parents so she could go to college at 15, at a prestigious school. She is now in her 40s and has only continued to succeed, and do amazing things, despite being legally declared an adult at such a young age. A system like this encourages more mature behavior out of teenagers.
I was going to edit this comment, but I can't because there is a McDonald's ad in my way. I don't seem to have the option to close it.
Some of the worst serial killers ever had good grades and lack of a police record. That is until they went on their killing spree. Being booksmart doesn't make you a mature, responsible adult.
Wow, so many of you 'parents' being so judgemental, and hateful based on zero knowledge of this girls life. Did you look at the picture??? What about jeans and a modest T-shirt screams hooker to you??? I truly feel sorry for your children - and anyone else who has to deal with you.
Fool is a good name for you "foolsdance". I suppose YOU know more about this girls life than us PARENTS OF TEENS know "as a general rule". General rule being that "most" youth today have a feeling of ENTITLEMENT to have their own way no matter how they are raised.
I'll give her credit for being bright enough to wear jeans and a tshirt in an attempt to not draw attention to herself as shes running away. More likely "running to" some guy she met on the internet. Probably a much older guy. Possibly a dangerous much older guy.
Yup, very judgemental of me- BASED on runaways in the past 10 years or so.
"Zoom and Enhance"
I'm sure pimps everywhere are following this closely. I hope this does not end up tragically, but the odds are against her at this point.
I hope she enjoys her new life in Eastern Europe.
It appears she s nothing but another young tramp
AL-2891335 ..the saying goes"it takes one to know one" but in your case you are an insensitive person who I hope has no children, put yourself in the place of someone who cares for her, so what if she wanted attention, so what if she obtained it by doing something dumb. Making a negative moral judgement about her character serves no purpose.....do what we are all hoping she does, grow up and learn from your mistakes. your comment is just plain mean/shame on you
Sorry, but the girl deserves what she gets. And before you talk, yes, I have 3 daughters of my own who use social media, but are not as stupid as this moronic little attention whore. This has already been online twice that I saw. I'm sure she's loving all this attention. Probably shacked up with the boyfriend that, yes, she probably met online. No sympathy for this idiot.
What a bunch of filthy minded and mean spirited posters.From your posts it seems that you have never dealt with teenagers.The names some of you parents are calling this girl is disgusting.No wonder these kids are so messed up.
If the shoe fits ......
Yes the comment was mean but it appears she is a tramp that will be hooking soon. Sometimes, the truth hurts.
People with no compassion raise kids with no compassion. What this girl did was wrong, but I guarantee some of the people on this board have kids who are bullies and have done far, far worse, while their parents sit here clucking their tongues.
And in a few days, they'll be sitting in a church pew pretending to believe in Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezus.
Hearts must know this girl personally and Franks-has a crystal ball..You both are pieces of work.
I agree with this guy. Im a teenager who was on twitter thru this whole thing. The girl was a tramp, You shouldve seen the messed up tweets she had before this ... she said she hated Gay people and Black people. This girls obviously crazy and so are you guys for feeling sorry for her
Not hating gays and blacks is crazy.
Yo bonos_rama, and parents with no brains raise kids with no brains (yes I have daughter), which is obviously the case here. If they were involved in her life stuff like this would not happen.
At least you think. I can pretty much guarantee that you have no idea of ALL the things your daughters get up to when they reach this kind of age. You might think you do, but you don't. And, IMO, you're setting yourself up for failure if you think you do.
Looks like a simple runaway who did it the wrong way / tried to make it look like she was abducted?
You never know what kids are running from. An abusive family member? An abusive boyfriend? Maybe she has a drug problem. We don't know. Clearly she needs help of some kind and I hope she's found safe and gets the help she needs.
Now I can agree on your comments. Thanks for not placing blame, speculating or randomly opinionating on who did what to whom; was refreshing.
Fascinating how many experts there are posting to this issue. Not a single one knows jack squat why she did this or where she is going, including myself. But I choose not to speculate or criticize or place blame here and there. Some people even want to come down on the parents at this point and really have no valid reason to do so. Again I say - truly fascinating.
It is my opinion only, but I do not think this girl is in a good place. If she is with a "bad" someone, this someone got her info easily. I hope and pray for her to be found alive. I just have a bad vibe about this. My opinion only.
When I first heard this story I immediately thought it was a hoax. Why? Because if there had actually been an intruder in her house, why would she take more time to twitter than to simply dial three numbers - 911 ? And then go hide in a closet, etc., until help arrives. Just another case of the boy (or girl) calling 'wolf.' What a shame.
Why? Many reasons. No handy phone, but a computer. Trying to be silent vs. talking on telephone. (etc.)
She's 16 years old doing 16 year old stuff. Probably has a boyfriend who moved to NY. She'll be back home after all the media stuff dies down. Bet she expect this to be a front page news item.
I wouldn't necessarily blame the parents for this kid's need for attention to create such a situation.
Some people are just born manipulators. MOST teens are very good at it, in case everyone forgot.
Some kids, who become adults later on, simply do not always come out right even under the most "perfect" environments....
...she needs to go home to family before this stunt leads to something that ruins her future.
Sorry, but I have to completely disagree with you. The type of parenting they receive makes kids what they are. And parents unwilling to accept responsibility for the how they raise their kids lead to kids who don't think they need to take responsibility for their Own actions. Then you throw in the fact that we live in the age of nonsense like Twitter which encourages self-centered, self-involved behavior and this is what you get. I do hope she gets through this safe and she and her parents get the help they clearly need. Sadly, I doubt they think they need it. At the very least I hope it gets others to talk with their own kids about how serious this sort of thing can be.
Time to raid her computer, her voice mail box, twitter followers prior to the incident and Instagram followers. Wherever she went she knows the person and as teens are vulnerable to todays technology she is likely carrying an Iphone which has an ESN that can be traced because the battery cannot be removed without breaking it. Find her bring her home and family court should (at her cost and the cost of the parents) order some level of counselling.
She left her phone at home. Which means she probably went to the store to buy a cheap unregistered phone non traceable. But maybe I'm giving her way too much credit for having 2 brain cells to rub together.
Unfortunately, the tracking won't work since her cell is at home.
I think the most important part of this story is that she used a social networking site to get people worked up at first. Is this a trait for someone seeking attention? What a shame. But should you really blame the child or these social networking sites who promote bragging rights that are somewhat false at times? Sites like facebook, Twitter provoke people to get or try to get attention. It's kind of like when someone gets pulled over on the highway, everyone slows down to take a look. But now you see people taking pics and posting them on the Internet as soon as they see something that THHHHHHEEEYY think is interesting. Why? For attention. This girl should receive a harsh punishment for this crime and social networks should be punished as well for promoting this kind of behavior.
It's females like this "child" who makes it very difficult to get any headway in dealing with real rapes, abductions, abuse and murders of women. Take her to a morgue and show her how a murdered woman looks who has been abducted; or a rape victim. Personally, if I were her mother, I'd tell her stay the hell out there and see how "safe" it isn't.
She should just stay where ever it is she went. Another spoiled teen skank.
Jeanette,Name calling on a 16 year old that you do not know.That to me is not acceptable.
please go home, folks may be mad but it will all pass, everyone wants you to be safe.
if not home, go someplace that you will be safe, grandparents, or another relative or a trusted friend or teacher, or just go to the police.
from me to you, apology accepted.
please be safe
That is not a teen, nor is it even female. :|
Another one, wanting to stretch their "fifteen minutes of fame".
If this were my child her phone would be OFF and her credit/debit cards would be cancelled. My teen already knows that I love her, but if she where to pull something like this she would be cutting the strings. Young adults/teens have to be made aware of harsh consequences......you leave, keep going!
Trended really? who makes the crap up
That child needs a stern talking to, with wagging finger, and then at least a time out for scaring all those people.
Screw the stern talking to, wagging finger and time out. How about a good a$$ whooping.
hearts2004,Please ease my mind by telling me that you are not a parent but that you are a bored teen making insane remarks to irritate people.
I do not know this kid, nor her situation. In truth, I really don't care. The issue here is this stupid need to be "recognized" or feel your "self worth" is by how many followers/friends you have on line. What ever happened to VERBAL communication?
As for this kid, 16 year olds have run away from home forever - for a multitude of reasons. Pimps, prostitution etc and all the other nasty things mentioned have existed forever - nothing new. Kids being exposed to it - nothing new. She's a runaway - no more important to anyone other than her family and friends than the other runaways in the world. For whatever reason - in her mind alone - she left. The stupid drama play beforehand is a scream for attention - lookie at me - I'm important - find me......
Be a parent. Discipline your child.... teach them the right way.. No, I'm not a Card Carrying Christian - I'm Wiccan; just someone who believes in the first rule of a lawful society: ALL ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. Stop being your kids "friend" - be a REAL parent - if that even exists anymore.
I bet you she does not know how to cook any meals or wash dishes right. Why, because these teachings start at home from the parents or parent. Do something with your kids to spend time with them even if its going grocery shopping or baking a cake or cokies but do something to make them know you are there for them and give them your time. They want to be a part of you. The hard thing is trying everything to find what makes them tick and then keep at it.
Go home little girl and start doing your homework.
cleaning lady, Please ease MY mind by telling me YOU are not a parent, just another bleeding heart. Your insane remarks are more irritating than the people who think the girl deserves to take some responsibility for her actions. What would you have the people she duped do? Invite her to tea? What about the man hours wasted by the police department in this hoax when they could have been working real cases? Wake up and live in the real world. Everybody is entitled to their opinion, not just you.
I'm positive that if I pulled this kind of bull@!$%#, I'd rather go to jail than face my parents.
She is simply, doing what she want to do...