Methuen police are asking the public for help finding 13-year-old Melody “Milo” Veras, who was last seen in the Howe Street area of Methuen at about 8 a.m. Monday and may be heading toward Lowell. She was reported missing to police the same day, and investigators have released a description of her appearance and clothing in hopes that someone has spotted her.
According to a missing-person alert posted by the Methuen Police Department on Facebook, Veras is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall and 189 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair and a light complexion. She was last seen wearing a blue shirt, a black hoodie and black pants. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Methuen Police Department at 978-983-8698.
The listed last-seen location, 100 Howe Street, is the address of the Comprehensive Grammar School, a public K-8 school serving more than 1,000 students in the Methuen Public Schools district, according to Niche. That places Veras's last known sighting at a school campus during the morning arrival window.
Police Point to Lowell as a Possible Destination
Investigators say Veras may be heading toward the Lowell area, a city about 9 miles from Methuen, with a road distance of roughly 10.6 to 10.7 miles, according to Rome2Rio. The two Merrimack Valley communities are also connected by the Merrimack Valley Transit Route 24 regional bus line, offering a direct public transit link between them.
The search comes as the Methuen Police Department operates under new leadership. Acting Police Chief James Moore was appointed by Mayor D.J. Beauregard in late August 2026, following the retirement of former Chief Scott J. McNamara after five years heading the department, per John Guilfoil Public Relations.
State Law Requires Immediate Reporting
Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 22A, Section 4, officers who receive a report of a missing child must immediately enter the juvenile's information into the Commonwealth's central missing child register, with no mandatory waiting period before that step. An AMBER Alert, however, is reserved for cases meeting stricter criteria: the child must be 17 or younger, confirmed to have been abducted, and facing an imminent threat of serious bodily harm or death before the Massachusetts State Police can authorize an emergency broadcast alert, according to Mass.gov.
Federal resources have also been mobilized for missing-youth cases in the state this year. In June 2026, a multi-agency initiative led by the U.S. Marshals Service called Operation Yellow Card resulted in the safe recovery of 35 endangered missing children across Massachusetts ahead of major regional summer events.
A Familiar Appeal From Methuen Police
This is not the first time this year that Methuen police have turned to the public for help locating a missing teenager. In August 2026, the department issued a similar request for assistance after 15-year-old Estrella Diaz was reported missing from the Haverhill Street area, a case Hoodline previously covered.
Methuen is a 23-square-mile municipality in Essex County with roughly 53,000 residents, bordering the city of Lawrence and the New Hampshire state line.
Anyone with information on Melody Veras's whereabouts is urged to contact the Methuen Police Department.
