LONG ISLAND, NY — The family of missing Long Island teen Emma Gervasi has increased the reward for her safe return to $15,000, her father confirmed for Patch on Friday.
Gervasi, 14, has not been seen for nearly five days, after telling her stepmother that she was going outside to get something from her family’s truck, and then left with no coat and possibly no shoes, a family friend told Patch. She was seen getting into an unknown car, though a family friend says it is unclear whether she did so willingly or not, according to Stephanie Biondi.
In a Facebook post, her father, Frank Gervasi, describes the scenario as a “nightmare.”
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In another post, he said the increased reward would be for anyone “who brings her home safe” or for information “leading to finding her.”
“Please take a minute to repost this so we keep her beautiful face out there,” the heartbroken dad wrote.
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He said he was not available to speak on Friday morning due to the fact that he was actively looking for her.
Gervasi has not been seen since around 5 p.m. on Monday on Terrell Street in Patchogue, Suffolk police said.
She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and black leggings, according to her profile on the website of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
In another Facebook post, her father said she has brown hair and eyes, stands 5 feet, 4 inches tall, and weighs about 140 lbs.
“My daughter is still missing, please repost this and keep the feed hot — it only takes a minute,” he wrote Thursday morning.
In a text he told Patch, “I need to get her home. Time is of the essence.”
Suffolk police’s 5th Squad of detectives in Patchogue are investigating Gervasi’s disappearance, a spokesperson said Tuesday.
A police spokesman said her profile was added to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website as a matter of routine.
It is not clear why the department did not send out an alert of its own, as is the case for missing children and vulnerable adults.
Anyone with information, can call Crime Stoppers’ anonymous tip line at 1-800-220-TIPS.
Gervasi said the family can be reached at 631-294-0265.
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