After the disappearance of 11-year-old boy Marley, who has since thankfully been found, the UK has now been shaken by the story of another missing young person. Julia Skala is 16 years old, and has not been seen or heard from since she left her home in Mitcham, south west London, at around 1pm on 8 January.
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As the investigation into her disappearance continues, Julia’s family have issued a heartbreaking plea. Here’s everything you need to know about Julia’s case and what her family have said.
Julia’s disappearance
The teen was last seen wearing a black North Face jacket, black trousers, white Nike trainers, and carrying a black Nike rucksack. She is white, with straight brown hair and brown eyes.
Since Julia was reported as missing by her mother on Tuesday 9 January the police have been looking for her, carrying out house-to-house inquiries and recovering CCTV. Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, in charge of policing for Merton, said:
While there is no evidence to suggest she has come to harm, we are growing increasingly concerned about her welfare.
Detective Kelland explained that she left home without her phone and has not been active on social media or made contact with friends.
Julia’s family’s heartbreaking plea
Detective Kelland said ‘Julia has never been away from home for this long and obviously her family are extremely worried’. The 16-year-old’s family released a statement on Wednesday 17 January, telling Julia that she is ‘loved and missed terribly’:
No matter what the reason was for you to leave, you aren't in any kind of trouble and we just want to know you are safe.
Please, just let someone know you are OK.
The police say Julia has links to Lambeth, Camden and Islington and it is possible she has travelled to these places via public transport.
If you have any urgent information regarding Julia’s case, contact the police immediately on 999 quoting the reference 24MIS000879. Non-urgent information can be shared by calling 101.
Read more:
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Sources used:
Express: Family of missing teen's desperate appeal as police 'increasingly worried' about welfare
