Allentown High School senior Sarah Townsend has been missing since May 9.
The 18-year-old varsity lacrosse and field hockey player left her home in Florence in Burlington County at approximately 7 a.m. that morning. Her family believed that she was going to school. However, she contacted her friend Matt Welsh, of Columbus, and asked him to meet her at Green Acres Park in Burlington Township, several miles from her home, according to police.
When Welsh arrived at the park, he reportedly did not find Townsend but discovered her vehicle unlocked and her purse and cellular phone in the car. Welsh called the police and reported Townsend missing at approximately 10 a.m., according to police.
Police, fire and other emergency officials, including K-9 units and dive teams, searched the park and bodies of water there until dark on May 9 and then again until mid-afternoon on May 10. Having exhausted their efforts without finding any clues related to Townsend’s disappearance or evidence of a struggle or foul play, police are now relying on her family, friends or anyone who has information about where she may have gone, according to New Jersey State Police Acting Captain Frank Davis.
In a phone interview on the afternoon of May 11, Davis said the investigation into Townsend’s disappearance is ongoing.
“We’re still following up on leads and trying to understand the information that we have,” Davis said.
Davis said police have stopped searching Green Acres Park but continue to seek out leads in what is currently being investigated as a missing person case.
When asked if authorities believe Townsend is alive, Davis said, “We are still investigating the case actively and we are optimistic.”
Townsend’s family has offered a $10,000 reward for information that leads to her return.
Her father, Roy, is a building and grounds employee at the Upper Freehold Regional School District. The district allows employees, regardless of where they live, to enroll their children in its schools. Hence, Townsend’s attending Allentown High School and not the high school in Florence.
Superintendent of Schools Dick Fitzpatrick said, “We are doing everything we can to support the family. This is extremely sensitive. People know Roy, not only as a dad upset about not being able to locate his daughter but also as a colleague. Everyone knows Roy. He does deliveries throughout the district and is always outside helping with maintenance. This affects all of our schools because he is well known and much liked in district.”
Fitzpatrick said he wanted to reflect the hope that Townsend’s family and the authorities have for her safe return.
“People have asked but we believe it’s premature to offer services such as grief counseling,” he said. “We’ve talked to the police and we’re waiting for a kid to come home. That’s what we’re waiting for. Her parents, in a public statement, said, ‘Come home. We won’t be angry.’ That kind of thing. She had phone conversations early that morning. We are anxious to have her come back and to let her know that any decision can be solved.”
Fitzpatrick reiterated that police found no physical evidence of a struggle or foul play during their search of the park where her car was found.
“There is no reason to believe she didn’t voluntary walk away from the site,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’re hopeful she will come back.”
Fitzpatrick described Townsend as a good student and athlete.
“She, like all of our seniors, was excited about the end of the year events and graduation,” he said.
Fitzpatrick said Townsend had made plans to attend the prom with an Allentown High School student. When asked if Welsh is a student at Allentown High School, Fitzpatrick said, “There are two boy friends involved. She had a friend that she was going to the prom with and another friend [Welsh].”
Fitzpatrick made a point of stating that this is typical of someone her age.
“Nothing would suggest she has problems any different than any other kids,” he said. “She is well liked. Teachers enjoy having her in class. Her parents are extremely proud of her. She has a sibling and her dad, he’s often happy to talk about his successes with his kids. It is one of the reasons why this is even harder. People know he is close to his kids and proud of their achievements.”
Fitzpatrick said that Townsend was expected to report to Allentown High School on the morning she went missing. He said the district has been receiving and providing information to her family and the authorities since Townsend disappeared. He reported to police when students and staff notified him that Townsend had placed a call to the family she babysat for that same morning to let them know that she would not be able to do so that afternoon. He said police were already aware that she had contact with multiple people that morning.
“It would be a great thing if Sarah just comes home and says I’m sorry I didn’t let you know where I was,” Fitzpatrick said. “I live to have that happen.”
Posters her family has been distributing throughout the area describe her as 5-foot-4-inches tall, weighing 105 pounds. She has a thin build, blue eyes and long blonde hair. She left her home wearing a red and gray sweatshirt with a gray hood, black sweatpants and red sneakers.
A candlelight vigil was planned to start at 7:30 p.m. on May 11 at Green Acres Park in Burlington Township near Sherman’s Pond where her car was found. Townsend’s friends planned to meet there beforehand at 4 p.m. to walk the area as well.
Anyone with information about Sarah Townsend is asked to contact Burlington Township Police at 609-386-2019.