NATALIE MUOIO - 17 yo - Nassau County/ Plainview NY

http://plainview.patch.com/articles/plainview-mother-police-seek-missing-teen#c

Have you seen Natalia Muoio? Do you know where she is?

Her distraught family is looking for clues to the 17-year-old's whereabouts after she disappeared without a trace one week ago Wednesday.

Nassau County Police say they are taking the matter seriously and are searching for the missing Plainview JFK junior. They have questioned several people but have not located the troubled Plainview youth.

"We want her to know there's another choice, this isn't what she has to do," said Natalia's mother, Diane Muoio who, with her sister, Patty Brick of Plainview, have been circulating fliers throughout the community and the high school. The fliers have gone viral in Plainview circles, on Facebook and other social media sites. They bear Natalia's photo and physical description.

"We want her to know she can come home, no questions asked, and we'll figure this all out together," added Brick. "Just a phone call to her mother, just to let her know you're alright. That all."

The family has many reasons to be concerned. According to family members, they include:

• Natalia has experienced a difficult past-few months, hanging out with a new set of friends with their own troubled pasts. At least one friend was considerably older than the teen and exhibited domineering, manipulative behavior, family members said.
  
• Recently, Natalia has shown signs of an eating disorder. She is 5'3" and weighs less than 90 pounds. She had been prescribed anti-depressants.
  
• Most frightening is that, in recent weeks, she's shown signs of physical abuse at the hands of another person, including bruises on her back, legs and face. There were at least two such reported incidents, family members said. When questioned by Plainview school authorities, medical personnel, and her family, Natalia denied being beaten and explained away the injuries.
  

Before further intervention could take place, Natalia wrote a note to her mother that she "wanted to try life on my own," and left suddenly. She took important personal belongings with her, including her laptop.

She hasn't been heard from since.

The family is asking for any assistance the community can offer. You can call (516) 578-2981 or (516) 443-1221 to speak with a family member.

You can also contact the Nassau County Police at 1-800-244-TIPS. Police say callers will be kept confidential.

http://plainview.patch.com/articles/natalia-ok-calls-home-still-on-run
Natalia 'OK,' Calls Home; Still On Run
Community's massive outpouring of support for missing Plainview teen is still needed, Mom says.

• December 8, 2011
  

Natalia Muoio, the missing Plainview JFK junior, contacted her mother early Thursday and is "OK," but still on the run.

Natalia's mother, Diane Muoio of Plainview, confirmed today she had a brief conversation with her daughter Thursday morning. The 17-year-old's conversation was brief but indicated she is "OK," her mother said.

Nassau Police Detectives said they, too, had learned of the conversation and were continuing to actively pursue the case as a runaway incident. Police and family members continue to be concerned for Natalia's safety and well-being because of previous indications of abuse at the hands of another person.

Natalia disappeared on Nov. 30 and, until Thursday morning's phone call, hadn't been heard from since.

The massive outpouring of support from the Plainview community has had an apparent impact on the case, authorities said. Diane Muoio asked for that support to continue so that Natalia is returned home and she gets the help she needs.

"Now we have more work to do," Diane said.

Patch will continue to update this story as it develops.