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A search party for missing 14-year-old Emmarae Gervasi has been organized for New Year’s Eve in the Mastic-Shirley area, following tips about possible sightings there, the girl’s father said on Monday.
Frank Gervasi announced the effort in an emotional Instagram video, the latest of his daily social media updates documenting his independent search for Emmarae.
“Emma’s just on my head all day long, all night, wondering where she is, what’s going on with her.,” he said in the video. “Is she okay? Is she not okay? These are all the things that run through your head as a parent.”
The search is set to begin at 1 p.m. in front of the Applebee’s on Montauk Highway in Shirley. Gervasi shared volunteers can bring their own supplies, such as flyers and flashlights, to help canvass the area.
“We’re going to knock on doors, check buildings, pass out flyers, and search the woods,” he said, seated in his car. “I’m getting a lot of people saying she’s been seen there, so we’re going to concentrate in that area tomorrow.”
Emmarae has been missing since Dec. 9, when she reportedly left her father’s Patchogue home barefoot and without a jacket. Suffolk County police said their Fifth Squad detectives are investigating her disappearance but have not disclosed further details.
Heartbroken mother speaks out on Patchogue teen’s disappearance
Gervasi expressed his gratitude for the social media community’s support.
“Social media is amazing,” he said. “People are stepping up. Strangers are bringing me flyers, and folks in other states are organizing search parties. The more we get her face out there, the better the chance of bringing Emma home.”
A survivor at heart
Emmarae’s mother, Melissa Dervay, also continues to hold out hope and continuously working with detectives to get Emmarae home. In an interview this weekend, Dervay, who divorced Gervasi in 2014 and also has two older boys with him, described their daughter as as a girl who is “loved by so many people in this family and in this community.” She added that Emmarae has always been determined and strong-willed, dating back to when she was 2 months old and fighting against a life-threatening breathing issue.
The teenager’s life has been marked by struggles, including treatment at addiction centers and psychiatric facilities, following a traumatic experience as a victim of a crime. Emmarae’s family has explained that in the past she has been exploited and manipulated by adults, exacerbating her challenges.
‘It’s chewing me up’
“We need to find her,” Gervasi said. “It’s been 22 days, and it’s chewing me up. Your tip could be the one that brings my little girl back to me.”
Anyone with information about Emmarae’s whereabouts is urged to contact Suffolk County Police. The police department on Monday included Emmarae in its weekly “Missing Monday” post on Facebook.
Top: A family courtesy photo of Emmarae Gervasi by her locker in middle school.
