GAINESVILLE, Ga. — May 29 was the last time a 12-year-old girl was seen in front of her home in Hall County; now family, friends, and community members, along with local and federal law enforcement, are searching for the child.
At the head of Saturday's search for Maria Gomez-Perez was a local mother whose daughter went missing for several months.
“She is 26 now but she was taken from me at nine months old," Melody Gaddy said. "She was taken to Mexico."
Another mother who volunteered on several searches for Gomez-Perez in the past weeks said she plans to continue searching until the young girl is found.
“When I heard about the case I instantly was scared and went to search for her immediately," Melissa Chanersky said. "All the searches we’ve been to, we must have handed out thousands of flyers."
Along with the Hall County Sheriff's Office, Couch said investigators with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Homeland Security and the Guatemala consulate—over 70 investigators—are working around the clock to find Gomez-Perez.
“It's scary not knowing where your child is. Are they safe? Are they being fed? Are they being molested? It's scary," said Gaddy.
So far, investigators said they've received nearly 70 tips in Gomez Perez's case and have conducted drone and K-9 searches at Gomez Perez's home.
Chanersky is teaching her children to protect themselves against people who would hurt them.
“We teach them about bad guys and how they can come at any time anywhere and that we should always be prepared that if somebody snatches them what to do," said Chanersky.
There is currently a $30,000 reward being offered for Maria’s safe return. Re-watch the Hall County Sheriff's latest update in the video below:
Anyone with information regarding Gomez-Perez’s disappearance should contact HCSO’s Special Investigations Unit at 770-503-3232 or intelrequest@hallcounty.org. Tips can also be phoned into 911 or Hall County Dispatch at 770-536-8812.