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No sign of missing Mint Hill girl after search of pond

By Steve Lyttle And Gary L. Wright
slyttle@charlotteobserver.com
  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/11/13/26/FRBCl.Em.138.jpeg|318
    Davie Hinshaw - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com
    Police found Kayla Campbell's bicycle near a pond they had searched for the missing girl.
  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2012/12/11/13/26/adzGb.Em.138.jpeg|133
    Courtesy of Mint Hill police - Courtesy of Mint Hill police
    Mint Hill police are looking for 16-year-old Kayla Campbell, who has not been seen since Sunday afternoon. (Photo courtesy of Mint Hill police.)

Mint Hill police continued searching Tuesday for a 16-year-old girl reported missing two days ago but have not found the teenager.

Investigators planned to return to an area near a pond where Kayla Campbell’s bicycle, helmet and cell phone were found.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation also is assisting with the search for Campbell.

Police said they received numerous tips overnight in the search for Campbell and plan to follow-up on all calls.

The N.C. Center for Missing Persons on Tuesday issued a Silver Alert for Campbell.

The continued search comes after a dive team found no signs on Campbell after a search Monday of a pond off Pumpkin Way Drive.

Police on Tuesday searched an area adjacent to the pond and the area around the missing teen’s home. “The search did not yield any new evidence to assist investigators,” police said in a press release.

Police said their search for Campbell during the past two days covered about seven to eight square miles.

Police said at this time no new ground searches are planned.

“Mint Hill Police Detectives along with the FBI continue to search the teen’s phone records in an attempt to contact as many of her friends and acquaintances as possible,” Mint Hill police said in the press release. “Detectives hope that this will help provide information on the teen’s whereabouts.”

Campbell, a student at Independence High School, was reported missing Sunday evening after she failed to return to her home on Dartmoor Place, which is about a quarter-mile from the pond.

The teen, who authorities say had left home around 2:30 p.m. Sunday, told family members she would be back in a few hours. But she has not been seen since.

A family member at the search scene said Monday afternoon that Campbell’s bike, bicycle helmet and phone had been found “in the area” of the pond.

The pond is a short distance east of Interstate 485 and south of Albemarle Road.

“At this time, we have no reason to believe there was an abduction,” Rowell told reporters on Monday. He did not elaborate.

He said police would talk to the girl’s family members again, in hopes of determining where else authorities could look.

“The dive team did not turn up anything,” Rowell added.

The search began about 10:30 a.m. at the pond, and a fire department dive team arrived a short time later. Divers were in the water throughout the afternoon, and other crews searched in boats.

Residents of the area came and left during the afternoon, watching the search and talking to reporters.

Shortly after 3:30 p.m., police removed crime tape, and the search crews left.

Campbell is white, about 5 feet 6 inches and 115 pounds, with long brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt, blue jeans and flats, according to the Silver Alert issued Tuesday.

Authorities asked anyone with information on the teen’s whereabouts should call Mint Hill police at 704-545-1085.

The Observer’s Davie Hinshaw and April Bethea contributed

Lyttle: 358-6107

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