Bakersfield police are asking the public for help finding a missing 14-year-old girl who disappeared on Halloween evening and hasn’t been seen since. Avery Michelle Mendez was last seen around 5:50 p.m. in the 3000 block of Loma Linda Drive, not far from Garces Memorial High School, and officers consider her at risk.
According to KBAK, the Bakersfield Police Department put out the call after Mendez went missing from the area near the high school. The station reports that officers are treating her disappearance with urgency and have turned to the community for leads.
Why Police Are Calling Her At-Risk
Mendez is considered “at-risk” due to being a first time runaway and mental health concerns, according to kget.com. That designation means officers are prioritizing the search, since this marks the first time she has run away and she has underlying mental health issues that worry investigators.
The station’s report describes Mendez as 5 feet and 1 inch tall, weighing about 90 pounds and having shoulder-length hair dyed dark brown with bangs. She also has blue eyes and pierced ears, details police hope will help the public recognize her if spotted around town.
What She Was Wearing on Halloween Night
Per the same account, Mendez was last seen wearing a lime green hooded sweatshirt with “GIR from Invader Zim” on it, black pants, black Converse shoes and a black and gray JanSport backpack. The outfit, tied to the popular animated character, could be a key identifier for anyone who may have crossed paths with her while out on Halloween.
Anyone with information about Mendez's whereabouts is asked to contact the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111. Police have not released additional details beyond her description, clothing, and the location where she was last seen in the 3000 block of Loma Linda Drive.
