GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Nearly two weeks after a 12-year-old vanished from her family's Gainesville home, the Hall County sheriff said his team remains focused on finding her, believing her to be in danger.
Maria Gomez-Perez was reported missing on May 30. On Tuesday, sheriff Gerald Couch held a media briefing to talk about how the search efforts are going. At first, he said investigators believed Maria left on her own. Couch said he's still trying to make sense of how she disappeared from Westside Drive.
"I think she may have -- and this is a possibility -- she may have come in contact with someone that she did make contact with to leave, that day, from her house," Couch theorized. "Identifying that person and trying to find who they are and where they went, there's the key to it."
Over the past few weeks, and as recently as this past weekend, crews have used K-9 officers and drones, checked Lake Lanier, and even searched Maria's home.
"We've been there several times, to the residence," Couch said. "We've collected a lot of cellphones and forensic evidence."
Teachers, friends and social media acquaintances have been interviewed. However, Couch didn't announce any new leads. He also explained why Maria still doesn't qualify for a Levi's Call. He said investigators don't have crucial information, like a car description, tag or who Maria may have left with. Couch also addressed why investigators aren't using the suggested grid pattern search.
"These type[s] of searches are for instances where you have a defined area you believe the individual or something suspicious is in," Couch explained. "We do not have those conditions."
Meanwhile, community advocates, like Norma Hernandez, still have their boots on the ground. Hernandez has been leading search efforts since the beginning. She said she's constantly running out of fliers, has thousands of supporters online, plus more billboards are on the way.
"We got donated six more, and it's free," she told 11Alive. "They're giving me that for free for two weeks."
Hernandez said she has hope Maria is still out there. She said she's been in touch with Maria's father, Andres Gomez, trying to keep his spirits up. Hernandez said people visit him often to pray for him and help.
"He is a sad person. He is a sad father, of course," Hernandez said. "He's missing his little girl."
Hernandez said they have had no luck reaching Maria's estranged mother, believed to be in Guatemala. Couch didn't rule out Maria possibly being there, as well.
"I have been working with the consulate from Guatemala," Hernandez continued. "It was very hard to find her, but we're still working. We're still trying to reach her."
Photos: Maria Gomez-Perez
Sheriff Couch and Hernandez, alike, are determined to keep going. The sheriff said the next person who comes forward could break this case wide open.
Anyone who knows anything about what happened to Maria is being urged to reach out to Hall County sheriff's investigators or call 911 dispatch with any tips. On Wednesday, June 12, officials announced the reward for her safe return had risen to $30,000.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Gainesville police, and the Consulate General of Guatemala in Atlanta are all assisting in this search.