The Oak Creek community has rallied together in the search for 13-year-old Lillian Asala, who mysteriously disappeared last Saturday, March 1, after purportedly heading to the Oak Creek Skate Park on E. Drexel Ave. Despite the lack of immediate evidence suggesting foul play, as reported by CBS 58, Lillian's absence marked a significant deviation from her typical behavior, leading to widespread concern and a large volunteer turnout for a park search yesterday.
A mass search effort, ignited by a Facebook plea from Lillian's relative, Adam Collins, led to Bender Park becoming a hive of activity; the park's parking lot filled by noon with well-meaning individuals driven to aid the family in their harrowing ordeal, many of these people were strangers, but they're united in their desire to assist the worried family according to a statement obtained by WISN 12. A local resident, Priscilla Bottoni, resonated with the collective concern by bringing along her mother to search on foot, "I have a 13-year-old, so I'd want as many people as possible to come help, too. So, I'm doing what I can," she said in a statement to WISN 12.
Lillian's father, Cody Czarnecki, expressed to TMJ4, his deep appreciation for the outpouring of support from the community, stating "I'll be honest, there's no direct reason why she might be here, but I want to eliminate it. So I appreciate everyone coming out. It's a pretty big park.” An earlier report by TMJ4 highlighted that after Lillian failed to respond to calls and texts, her family appealed to the authorities; the last trace of her was a ping from her phone near the corner of S. Pennsylvania Ave. and E. Forest Hill Ave. — alarmingly, the device was later found by a bystander near the skate park, and now the phone is subject to official investigation.
Jodi Coon, participating in the collaborative search, spoke with passion about the importance of community support during such times, "When it is in your community, you should reach out and be a part of each other and show that we're unity and have each other. That's why I'm out here," she informed CBS 58. Oak Creek police are persisting in the investigation, reaffirming that Lillian Asala is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighs 140 pounds, and can be recognized by her blonde hair and braces; on the day she vanished, she was clad in a black winter coat, blue jeans, and blue and white Nike shoes.
