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Shalyha Ahmad, an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has been missing since she was last seen on December 14, after her family dropped her off at the Jefferson Blue Line station.
According to ABC 7 Chicago, Ahmad was last seen on around 9 a.m. on Friday, December 14, when she was dropped off at CTA Jefferson Blue Line station in Chicago’s north end. Ahmad was supposed to be picked up by her family later that day but never showed up.
Police say that Ahmad’s cell phone is not working and that she has not tried to contact her family using Facebook Messenger, which is something she has done in the past. Additionally, Shetti Fatima Ahmad, Shalyha’s mother, said she received an anonymous tip that her daughter may be with friends from the Filipino community at the University of Illinois.
“You can come home when you’re ready, just try to call us and … tell us that you’re safe,” Ahmad’s mother said in a press conference.
via Chicago Tribune:
Typically, the Chicago Police Department distributes a flyer soon after a person is reported missing. Shetti Fatima Ahmad said the family first filed a report with university police that night, and went to the Chicago Police Department’s 16th District station later Dec. 14 to file a missing persons report.
A police spokeswoman confirmed there is an open case for Ahmad but said the teen was reported missing Dec. 16 from the 5600 block of West Newport Avenue in Portage Park, where her family’s home is located. The spokeswoman said no flyer has been issued for the teen.
“Generally, before we put out public alerts detectives need to corroborate the initial timeline and conduct a risk assessment on the vulnerability of the individual. Depending on where they live, this could take some time to contact individuals and do interviews,” Officer Christine Calace wrote in an email.
Ahmad is described as being 5’3″ and weighing 110 pounds. The last time she was seen, she was reportedly wearing a multi-colored jacket, jeans, a red beanie, black/white shoes, and was carrying a red/black duffle bag.
Anyone with information about Ahmad’s whereabouts is asked to call investigators with the Chicago Police Department at 312-744-8266.
Shalyha Ahmad Missing Poster