The father of a Port Washington teenager missing for a week issued an impassioned public plea for help Tuesday, as police and private investigators continue searching for 16-year-old Elize “Ellie” Avazis.
Avazis has been missing since Wednesday, after she and another Port Washington teen were last seen boarding a Long Island Rail Road train bound for New York. While the second teen returned home last week, Elize remains missing, her family said.
In a message posted publicly to Facebook, Elize’s dad Anthony Avazis detailed what he described as a fragmented and troubling trail of sightings and information gathered since his daughter disappeared.
Cell phones left behind
Elize and her friend left their phones behind and traveled to Manhattan, where they apparently met two other youths and stayed for a short time at an apartment in Hell’s Kitchen, Avazis wrote. The family said they do not know the identities of the people or the exact location of the apartment.
The post states Elize later left Manhattan and traveled to Auburndale, New York, on Friday, where she unsuccessfully attempted to rent a room, her father said. Police visited a home connected to that lead but were unable to locate her, according to Anthony Avaxis.
At some point after that, the friend returned home, while Elize did not, her family said.
The teen was last positively spotted Friday night about 5:30 p.m. near the Merillon Avenue train station in New Hyde Park, according to her father. A homeowner near the station reported seeing a young woman sitting outside her house and later confirmed to police that the individual matched Elize’s photo, he said.
Family members searched the area Friday night and Saturday morning but found no sign of her.
“At this point, she could be anywhere,” her father wrote, adding that police and private investigators are continuing their search.
He also pleaded for residents across Long Island to remain alert.
Police said Elize was last seen wearing a black coat, a red hoodie sweatshirt and dark gray sweatpants.
Anyone who sees Elize or has information about her whereabouts is urged to contact the Port Washington Police Department at 516.883.0500.
Top: Elize “Ellie” Avazis with her parents and older brother in a photo posted on Facebook by her father, Anthony (Facebook).
