Search continues for Lehigh teen

Anyone with information regarding the disappearance of a 17-year-old Hillsboro High School student is urged to contact authorities even though an Amber Alert ended Wednesday.

The Marion County Emergency Preparedness office also released a statement Thursday morning.

Tara Renee Simhiser, of Lehigh, according to authorities, was reported as an abduction by Rojelio ?Roy? Hernandez, 21.

The last time she was seen was at her home in Lehigh, but details on when she was last seen remained sketchy today (Thursday).

?So there is no misunderstanding, the Marion County Sheriff?s office is still asking for the public?s assistance in located Tara (Simhiser), who is believed to be in extreme danger,? said the statement from Michelle Abbott, MCEP director.

Simhiser is a white female, 5 feet tall, 120 pounds, blonde hair and brown eyes, last seen wearing blue jeans and a dark T-shirt.

Hernandez is hispanic, 5-7, 145, brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a light brown shirt, blue jeans and a blue cap.

The vehicle, law enforcement officials said, is a late model blue 1989 Honda with body damage and red and yellow tape over the driver?s side tail lamp, registered in Kansas with plate number 050BDD or bearing Texas plates, number unknown.

Recent updates revealed the Honda was last sighted in the Wichita area at about 8 p.m. Wednesday and the couple could be heading toward Topeka.

Officials are also urging motels be checked for any sign of them.

The Marion County Sheriff?s office initiated the Amber Alert Wednesday, but was later called off by the KBI.

In her statement, Abbott stated the Kansas Amber Alert is a statewide plan to get information out quickly when a child is missing.

?During the activation phase, information is provided to the media and the public with alerts transition into news stories.

A news conference is scheduled Thursday afternoon in Marion County to provide further updates in this case.

However, until Simhiser is found, officials are urging anyone with relevant information to call the Marion County Sheriff?s office at 620-382-2144 or the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at 800-572-7463, with information that could be vital in locating her.

We will update the situation on our Web site as information becomes available.

 

 

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