Elyssa Marie Vasquez, 12: Last Seen On A Bus In 2003
Police classified her as a runaway for years.
When Elyssa Marie Vasquez first went missing, the 12-year-old was treated as a runaway before being classified as an endangered child. The Doraville, Georgia, pre-teen was last seen on January 28, 2003, after school, getting on a public bus. It was reportedly Elyssa's first day at a new school in Clarkston.
Her mother, Shannon Vasquez, spoke with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children about her harrowing experience not knowing what happened to her daughter.
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“She would get up in the middle of class or compulsively do something as simple as throwing something in the trash,” Shannon said. Elyssa’s parents hoped that the new school would be better equipped to help. “I wanted to make sure they understood that she had a hyperactive disorder, and that we were on our path to working on it.”
Shannon explained that Elyssa’s father wasn’t able to take her to school the day she went missing. The bus Elyssa took to school dropped her off in front of the entrance, as confirmed by a security guard.
“She called me during lunch to tell me how happy she was at her new school,” Shannon added. “Everything was fine, she was excited. She even asked me if I could style her hair like the other girls when she returned home.”
Although Elyssa was seen getting on the bus after school, she never got off at the stop near her home. Even more mysterious is that no one on the bus recalled Elyssa leaving the bus at all.
Elyssa Marie Vasquez: What To Know
At the time of her disappearance, Elyssa was described as 5 feet 1 inch tall and 117 pounds. She had brown hair, hazel eyes, and both of her ears were pierced. Elyssa is described as being biracial (Black and Hispanic) and was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
She has a scar under her right shoulder and a small, straight scar of four stitches just under her chin that is only noticeable when someone looks for it. She reportedly goes by the nicknames “Lisa” and “Lee Lee.” Elyssa was last seen wearing a blue ski jacket with a white strip down the middle, dark blue jeans, and white sneakers.
“She loved making people laugh and was very goofy and fun. She loved to dance and learn about music… If anyone knows anything, no matter how small, please call,” said Shannon. “Living with no answers is the worst thing to live with.”
Anyone with information regarding the disappearance of Elyssa Marie Vasquez is urged to contact the DeKalb County Police Department at
(770) 724-7715 or their local authorities.
Please share this story about Elyssa to help reignite the investigation into her case. She is our sister, and her life matters.
Case Number:
Agency: NCMEC
Phone: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)
Email:
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