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Family blitzes social media for help finding their missing daughter

When Allie Loftis disappeared, her parents turned to friends and strangers online in hopes of finding her.

 

Dave Copeland

IRL

Posted on Nov 16, 2011   Updated on Jun 3, 2021, 1:16 am CDT

Family members of a missing 13-year-old Massachusetts girl are holding out hope that their social media blitz would bring the girl home safely.

Allie Loftis is believed to have runaway and police said they do not suspect foul play. She was last spotted Nov. 4 in security cameras at New York City’s Port Authority bus station. Four days after Loftis was reported missing, her family set up the Find Allie Loftis Page on Facebook. The page is maintained by her parents, who have posted photos of Loftis and pleas for her to return home.

“where r u allie pls come home to me, luv puffy,” the girl’s parents posted on a photo of Allie with a dog.

This week alone, the number of people “liking” the page has grown from about 600 on Monday to more than 2,600 as of early Wednesday afternoon. Many people who had never met the family or Allie were on the page showing concern and sympathy.

“Hi – I’m a (Wayland Middle School) teacher (music – strings). I don’t know Allie personally but just wanted you to know my heart is with you,” Whitney Tandon, a teacher at the girl’s school, posted. “I am so sorry you are going through this and I hope it all ends soon. Her WMS family is eager for her to return. All my best.”

The message is also spreading on Twitter, with tweets about the Loftis case showing up in unlikely places, including under the #OccupyBoston has tag and the #OpCorrupcion hash tag Anonymous is using to discuss its operation to protest Mexican government complacency in combating drug violence.

“Help. My daughter, 13, is missing. Ran away to NYC.http://huff.to/ue8Bmt All help appreciated. Please retweet,” Tony Loftis has repeatedly tweeted.

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*First Published: Nov 16, 2011, 3:05 pm CST