HANNAH SMITH - 16 yo - East Greenbush/ Albany NY

http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S2436048.shtml?cat=300

EAST GREENBUSH – East Greenbush Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a missing person.

Sixteen-year-old Hannah Smith was last seen on Jan. 1 around 1 a.m. at her home in East Greenbush. It is believed that Smith is going to New York City or New Jersey. Some of Smith’s friends and her parents have been interviewed but there is no additional information at this time.



Smith is 5’ 05” and 115 pounds with brown hair and green eyes. She was born on April 28, 1995.

If you have any information on her whereabouts please contact the East Greenbush Police at 518-479-2525.

"Just come home," pleaded Loriann Smith as she talked about her daughter Hannah.
It has been three days since Hannah Smith, 16, has been home, three days
since her parents have seen her smile. The last time they did was New
Years Eve before she went to bed. Her parents say that night she was happy.
"I went over and gave her a kiss and told her I loved her and said goodnight," said Stephen Smith, Hannah's dad.
The next morning they say she was gone, taking her phone with her. The
front door was left wide open. Hannah's parents and police don't know
where she is. They tried to track her using her phone, but it was turned off.
The Smiths say that the police investigation shows that
Hannah made mention to some acquaintances that she was planning on
running away. Some of her friends say she mentioned New Jersey, and a
Facebook message she sent talked about New York City.
"She doesn't drive, she didn't have very much money just allowance," said Loriann.
"I know the girl of 2 1/2 years ago wouldn't have done this."
Two and a half years ago is when their lives changed. A drunk driver hit the car Hannah and her dad were in, head on.
"When the rescuers came they didn't even know there was anyone in the passenger side because it was so dented in," said Stephen.
But Hannah was there. The crash left her with a traumatic head injury.
"When people suffer frontal lobe injuries it impacts their judgment and decision making," said Loriann.
The Smiths are afraid that injury is preventing Hannah from thinking
straight now and could make her very vulnerable wherever she is.
If someone has seen her, they are pleading with them to call East Greenbush Police at 518-479-1212.
"I call her princess all the time. I don't want to be corny but that's what she is. She's my only daughter," said Stephen.
"This is every parents absolute worst nightmare. This is ten times worse than the car accident," said Loriann.
East Greenbush Police say they have some leads they are following. They say
that the New York State Police and New Jersey Police are involved.
Ever since the accident Hannah's parents say she has suffered from anxiety
and claustrophobia. They are concerned because she doesn't have her medication with her.
http://www.fox23news.com/news/local/story/Plea-for-help-in-case-of-missing-girl/wyeLTuIO20iN-Vqw53AoOQ.cspx

Poster hanging blitz for missing East Greenbush teen
January 06, 2012 5:19 PM

EAST GREENBUSH -- Police continue to search for a 16-year-old girl who has been missing since January 1.



enlarge

East Greenbush police are asking for the public's help in finding
Hannah Smith. Her parents say she suffered a serious brain injury two
years ago, which affects her ability her make good decisions. Her
mother says this makes Hannah even more vulnerable than the average
16-year-old girl.
The family is hosting a poster hanging "blitz" on Saturday, January 7
at 10:00 a.m. They will meet at the Community Gospel Church on 3rd
Avenue Extension in East Greenbush.

More information can be found on the Facebook event page [here].


Read more: http://www.cbs6albany.com/articles/east-1289712-greenbush-missing.html#ixzz1ij4Uil00

EAST GREENBUSH – The community came together on Saturday to help in the search for a missing 16-year-old girl.

Friends, family and strangers gathered at a church on Third Avenue
Extension to map out a plan before distributing posters around the area
in hopes of locating Hannah Smith, who went missing on Jan. 1.

Her family also received some “welcome support” from a woman who has
long walked in their shoes. Mary Lyall, the mother of Suzanne Lyall,
came to the event to offer words of comfort while assisting in the
search. Lyall’s daughter went missing in March of 1998.

“I know what we went through,” Lyall said. “And I’m really trying to help them with what they are going through.”

In the meantime, Hannah’s parents are urging anyone who may have
information about her to come forward. They say Hannah’s ability to make
decisions has been impacted since she suffered a traumatic brain injury
after being hit by a drunk driver in 2009.

Her parents think she may have headed toward New York City or New Jersey and that she probably doesn’t know where she is.

Hannah’s mother, Loriann, made a plea to her daughter on Saturday: “Baby girl come home. We love you so much.”

http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S2443490.shtml?cat=300

"Protect her where she is," said one woman as she prayed at the Community Gospel Church in East Greenbush.

"Help her come home," prayed another.

Dozens of people offered countless prayers all asking for the same thing, that 16-year-old Hannah Smith come home safe.

"There have literally been thousands of people praying for my daughter. We believe in the power of prayer," said Loriann Smith, Hannah's mom.

Loriann and Stephen Smith found comfort in their faith two years ago when a drunk driver hit the car Stephen and Hannah were in. Hannah suffered severe head trauma, an injury they say makes her more vulnerable and makes her perceptions and decisions altered.

"This is a child who has a medical condition, a child who has already been a victim of a crime," said Loriann.

"I'm here to pray about the police and the detectives and the work they are doing to bring Hannah home," prayed a young man at the church Thursday.

State and local police, even the FBI, have been following leads for days. Some leads suggest Hannah may be traveling to New York City, New Jersey or Chicago.

The Smiths say that bloodhounds traced Hannah's scent a half mile up the road from their home. That leads them to believe a car picked her up.

The Smiths say Hannah only has about $50, a computer and a cell phone with her so they think someone is helping her, perhaps even someone she met online.

If so, they have a message for that person.

"Do the right thing, get my daughter home," said Loriann.

They have a message for their daughter too.

"No matter when she called me I'd be on the road in five minutes to get her wherever," said Stephen Smith, Hannah's dad.

"Hannah we absolutely love you with all our heart and there's not accusation, not condemnation, not judgment. We just want you home because we love you so, so much," said Loriann.

So does the community, even people the family has never met. Many people seeing something in Hannah that makes them want to help.

"They heard about a missing 16-year-old and, as someone said, she's everybody's daughter right now. It's every parents nightmare and they can relate on some level," said Stephen Smith.

Hannah has had her phone off since she left and can not be traced. Her parents say that the length of time she has been gone means she could be anywhere. They are asking you to call police if you know anything about Hannah's whereabouts.

http://www.fox23news.com/news/local/story/Vigil-held-for-missing-East-Greenbush-teen/PL-LjcTt0EGHBqDeshhdgA.cspx?autoplay=1

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 16-year-old girl.

“It’s like every parent’s worst nightmare and everyday gets worse,” said Stephen Smith.

For Smith and his wife Loriann, the not knowing is the hardest since their daughter Hannah went missing New Year’s Day.

“She just doesn’t even know” said Loriann. “So many people’s hearts are broken.”

Hannah Smith was last seen on January 1 around 1:00 a.m. at her East
Greenbush home. Police say that she is believed to be en route to New
York City or New Jersey.

Hannah Smith Poster (pdf)

However, a few days after posters were spread to Hess stations, a
Jersey City Hess attendant recalls seeing her in a blue minivan with a
male driver in his 30′s on New Years morning around 8-9 a.m. Near the
entrance to the Holland Tunnel.

“There have been literally thousands of people praying for my
daughter,” said Loriann Smith, Hannah’s mother, taking a break from
greeting, hugging and thanking all who came to a church vigil last night
to support their effort. “We believe in the power of prayers and we
believe God is hearing every single prayer.”

Smith’s mother, Loriann, says she believes someone is helping Hanna
and believes she may have met the person on Facebook. Still, the family
has hope and say they believe in the power of prayer.




“We know the police are on this case, the FBI is involved and there
are some leads, you know, there’s nothing conclusive or anything, but
there have been leads before that have been false. And so we have to
keep ourselves calm and let the police do what we need to do,” Loriann
Smith said.

Smith’s parents say she hasn’t used her cell phone since she left, and may not want to be found.

The Smiths say that bloodhounds traced Hannah’s scent a half mile up
the road from their home. That leads them to believe a car picked her
up.

The Smiths say Hannah only has about $50, a computer and a cell phone
with her so they think someone is helping her, perhaps even someone she
met online.

If so, they have a message for that person.

“Do the right thing, get my daughter home,” said Loriann.

They have a message for their daughter too.

“No matter when she called me I’d be on the road in five minutes to get her wherever,” said Stephen Smith, Hannah’s dad.

“Hannah, we absolutely love you with all our heart and there’s not
accusation, not condemnation, not judgment. We just want you home
because we love you so, so much,” said Loriann.

She is described as 5’05″, 115 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the East Greenbush Police Department at 518-479-2525.
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/01/13/missing-teen-hannah-smith-may-be-in-new-york-city-area/

EAST GREENBUSH — Hannah Smith, a 16-year-old reported missing on New Year's Day, has been found, police said late Saturday.
The Columbia High School junior apparently ran away from home, according to her parents, Loriann and Stephen Smith, who began an intensive search for their daughter.
Scanner
chatter around 11 p.m. indicated Hannah was a passenger in a vehicle
spotted on the Thruway near Kingston, but the East Greenbush police
would not confirm that, or if anyone was arrested in connection with Hannah's disappearance.
According to police, the teen is safe.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Missing-teen-Hannah-Smith-found-safe-2534016.php#ixzz1jVM52DbP