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Early Friday afternoon, the family of 14-year-old Emmarae Gervasi seemingly let out a collective giant-sized sigh of relief.
After an agonizing 25 days, the missing Patchogue teen had been found safe — reportedly by her dad in a boat docked in Islip. For her father, Frank Gervasi, and mother, Melissa Dervay, joined by her brothers, grandparents, step-mom, step-grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins, the nightmare was over.
Much of Long Island, captivated by Emmarae’s story during a busy holiday season, shared in that exhale of joy.
Emmarae’s disappearance and subsequent search gripped the community, fueled by her father’s daily Instagram video updates and widespread social media coverage. Local news outlets provided consistent updates, ensuring the case remained in the public eye.
“She is in a facility right now getting the help she needs and is safe,” Frank Gervasi said in video he posted on Facebook just before 1 p.m. on Saturday. “I’d like to thank the community for all of the support that you gave us.”
Gervasi explained that it was “social media videos and (donated) flyers” that led to an anonymous tip from a woman that helped him find his daughter.
“The phone call I received was that she was on a boat in Islip,” he said, adding that he was initially skeptical. “The lady who gave me the tip was afraid to go in the boat.
“I’m not going to talk too much on social media about the guys involved,” he added, speaking from his vehicle and wearing a sweatshirt with the wording, “Protect Our Children.”
“I did clear the boat. There was nobody else on the boat at the time when I got there,” Gervasi said. “A lot of details about the people involved I’m not going to discuss. It’s still an active investigation.”
Police have confirmed Emmarae was found, but have only said that she is in police custody. Gervasi thanked Suffolk County Police and Suffolk’s district attorney’s office for their persistence in the investigation into Emmarae’s disappearance.
“I believe working together (with authorities) helped bring her home,” Gervasi said, noting that because police are “so busy” inundated with tips,” parents need to be active participants in getting their missing kids home.
“Emma has a long road of recovery ahead of her. And we’re going to do everything possible to get her the help she needs,” he said. “The joy that comes over you when you find your child is. feeling that only a parent that has gone through this would understand … God gave me a gift yesterday. Having her safe in my arms was just the most amazing feeling in the world.”
A timeline of Emmarae’s disappearance and search
Dec. 9
Emmarae Gervasi, a student at Patchogue-Medford High School, went missing on Monday evening. Her father, Frank Gervasi, made his first public plea for assistance, emphasizing her age and vulnerability. Full story here.
Dec. 13
Frank Gervasi announced a $15,000 reward for any information leading to Emmarae’s return, signaling the family’s desperation and commitment to bringing her home. Full story here.
Dec. 22
Amid rising concerns, Frank Gervasi expressed his fears that the worst might have happened to his daughter. Full story here.
Dec. 24
On Christmas Eve, Frank Gervasi made a heartfelt video plea, urging the community to keep searching and hold out hope. Full story here.
Dec. 29
Melissa Dervay, Emmarae’s mother, broke her silence, sharing her heartbreak and urging her daughter to come home. Full story here.
Dec. 30
A search party was organized, reflecting the community’s determination to find Emmarae. Full story here.
Later that day, reports emerged of her last known location: a Bohemia motel near the airport. Full story here.
Jan. 3
Emmarae was found safe, marking the end of an extensive search that united a community. Full story here.
Community interest and social media presence
Throughout Emmarae’s disappearance, her father’s daily Instagram videos became a rallying point for supporters. His emotional appeals, combined with the news coverage from local news outlets and widespread sharing on social media, kept her case highly visible.
Hashtags like #FindEmmarae trended locally, and neighbors across Suffolk County shared updates and organized searches. Community forums lit up with discussions, tips and words of encouragement, underscoring how deeply Emmarae’s story resonated during a season typically defined by joy and togetherness.
Law enforcement, including Suffolk County Police and the county’s district attorney’s office, were tight-lipped about the specifics of the case, only confirming that the investigation is ongoing. Their restraint contrasted with the flood of public and media interest that kept Emmarae’s name in headlines across December and into the New Year.
Reflections from Emma’s family
Frank Gervasi’s Instagram updates consistently conveyed his heartbreak and determination.
He maintained in recorded videos that he “feared the worst” — that she was being held against will. Describing how he would search for his daughter deep into every night, Gervasi said he would not stop until she was found.
The determined father, who has legal custody of Emmarae, also had a warning for anyone who may be holding Emmarae.
“I promise you I will spend the rest of my life looking for you, if it’s the last thing I ever do I will find her and who ever has her that’s a promise !!! Do the right thing and let her go before it’s too late !!! We are coming for u !!, he posted on Facebook 13 days into the search.
Melissa Dervay, speaking to Greater Long Island in the moments after her daughter was located, described the ordeal as a nightmare.
“The moment I heard her voice and knew she was OK, I felt a weight lifted off my body,” she said. “I’ve been so tense for the past four weeks, quietly fighting a battle. Now, I’m elated.”
Earlier, during the days when Emmarae was still missing, she described the pain of sleepless nights and the occasional respite of naps that brought vivid dreams of her daughter’s presence.
“The pain I felt when I woke up and realized it was a dream was unbearable,” she said a week ago.
During the search for her daughter, Dervay had established a GoFundMe effort, with the hopes of raising enough money for the family to hire a private investigator. She closed out the fundraising effort today, and left an update, thanking the community for its support. All donations will be returned.
Here is Dervay’s GoFundMe message in full:
"I cannot begin to express the whirlwind of emotions shared by me and Emma's brothers and family over the past few weeks. The outpouring of love and support for Emma have touched me in a way that will never be forgotten and forever cherished. Both good-hearted strangers and those who know Emma and my family intimately meshed as one in hopes of achieving one goal: to bring Emma home. By the grace of the universe, love, and, above all, our steadfast faith in her return, she is safe and home and about to embark upon her journey of healing. This platform has received a request from me for a full refund of your generous donations. I am being told that you should expect them in the next few weeks. Thank you again to everyone! To those I share our past with, I love you too much (Emma and my little catch phrase). To those whom I don't know but helped with this endeavor, thank you my beautiful stranger! You all will forever hold a space in my heart."
