The urgent search for a missing teenage girl has ratcheted up as local authorities continue to put out calls for public assistance in locating 16-year-old A'niya Maxey, who vanished from East Palo Alto over a month ago. Per an X post from the California Highway Patrol, the EBONY Alert—a system reminiscent of the AMBER Alert tailored specifically for communities of color—was activated by the CHP on behalf of the East Palo Alto Police Department. A'niya Maxey was last seen on February 24, near Verbena Drive and Gardenia Way in Santa Clara County.

EBONY ALERT - Alameda, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Orange Counties Last seen: Verbena Drive and Gardenia Way, East Palo Alto@epapd
IF SEEN, CALL 9-1-1 pic.twitter.com/Fim4v6Ux2a

— CHP - Alerts (@CHPAlerts) March 25, 2024

Residents in Alameda, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Orange Counties are urged to watch for Maxey, 5 feet 1 inches tall, weighing 110 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Authorities are asking anyone with information to call 9-1-1 urgently. The details were posted online, listing Maxey's last known attire as a black top and black pants. Officials emphasize the critical nature of the situation as time continues to pass since her initial disappearance swiftly.

EBONY Alerts, like AMBER Alerts, are a strategy to use the eyes and ears of the public to help swiftly find missing children and teens. Given the disproportionately high rates of disappearances among Black youth, these alerts represent an evolution of the system, ensuring that the urgency of finding missing children of color is amplified with the alarm it deserves.

The family of A'niya Maxey and the East Palo Alto community are growing increasingly distressed, imploring the public to remain vigilant and to share any potential leads with law enforcement. While official updates from the East Palo Alto Police Department have been sporadic, the circulating EBONY Alert remains one of the surest ways to keep the public engaged and to guide A'niya back safely. The East Palo Alto Police Department and CHP both continue to aggressively push the message that every second counts in their efforts to find A'niya Maxey and bring solace to her family.