The family of a missing 14-year-old girl in DeKalb County is pleading for answers after she vanished from her home Sunday evening. They believe she may have been coaxed out of the house by someone she met online.

Every Call Goes Straight To Voicemail

Amy Reidling, described by police as 5-foot-1, 105 pounds, with brown hair and bangs, was last seen around 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, at her family’s home on Janet Lane in Decatur, according to the DeKalb County Police Department. By nightfall, her stepmother, Ginny Rutledge, realized she was gone. “I opened the door, and she was gone,” Rutledge told local station 11Alive. “Tore the house apart, called 911 at 9:15. No one’s messages have been read. Every time we call, it goes straight to voicemail.”

Open But Active

Police have confirmed the case remains open and active, but they offered no further updates this week. “As with any missing child case in our community, our officers are searching diligently to bring Amy home,” a department spokesperson said. Hours before she disappeared, the teenager was shopping for jewelry and accessories to match her homecoming dress. The big night was supposed to be this weekend, but now they’re coordinating searches, distributing flyers, and enlisting a private investigator. “This is a nightmare … it’s cliché and everything, it’ll happen, but here we are,” Rutledge said.

Amy’s Family Believe She Was Targeted

The family fears Amy didn’t leave on her own. They believe she may have been targeted online, persuaded to sneak out by someone who knew exactly how to exploit her youth. “There’s a lot she doesn’t know, and especially in a big city like Atlanta,” Rutledge said. “I’m positive that she was taken.” The dangers of online grooming—where adults establish relationships with minors through social media or gaming platforms before encouraging risky behavior—have been the subject of warnings from law enforcement for years. Still, the reality of it feels almost unreal until it strikes close to home.

A Missing Person Who Everyone Misses

Amy’s father and stepmother say the outpouring of support has been overwhelming. “Everybody’s been stomping the streets, putting up fliers,” Rutledge said. In a direct message to Amy, she added: “You don’t even understand how many people are here helping to find you. And we all want you back.” She continued: “Amy, we love you, we miss you. We want you here. You’re my girl, you’re my person. Please come back.” For now, her family is holding on to hope. They are urging anyone with information to come forward, and for Amy—if she can—to let them know she’s safe. “Please let us know you’re okay if you can,” Rutledge said. “Be safe, fight hard.”