Police in Schenectady determined to solve mystery of missing teen
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Both Schenectady and State Police are continuing their investigation into the disappearance of 14-year-old Samantha Humphrey.
The Schenectady High School freshman hasn’t been seen since reportedly meeting up with an old boyfriend late Friday night at Riverside Park.
Several Schenectady police cars remained at Riverside Park on Wednesday, with yellow crime scene tape visible. Police continue to keep everyone else out.
At the same time, police are stressing they haven’t yet determined if a crime has been committed.
Police know that Samantha was last there around 11 p.m. Friday night. She hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
Both Schenectady and State Police are continuing their investigation into the disappearance of 14-year-old Samantha Humphrey.
Information, photographs, commentary and speculation about what happened to Samantha has exploded on social media.
Schenectady police tell NewsChannel 13 that much of that is misinformation. Since detectives are being deluged with tips, and since detectives are determined to track down every lead, misinformation can delay the investigation.
State police divers were on the Mohawk River again Wednesday, and that their search of the murky waters extended several miles downstream.
Police acknowledge this is a tough case and a tough situation, but they are determined to find out what happened to Samantha and reunite her with her family.
“Anytime a person goes missing, it’s a serious deal and the Schenectady Police Department takes it very seriously. When it’s a 14-year-old girl or a juvenile involved, these are kids,” said Sgt. Nick Mannix, with the Schenectady Police Department.
“It’s something that tugs at your heartstrings. There’s men and women that work here that have kids, and I can’t imagine what the family is going through with this.”
Mannix says detectives are aware there’s been a photograph circulating on social media of a jacket said to belong to Samantha, purportedly found near the river. However, police have not officially drawn that conclusion.
Now it’s not clear who found the jacket, who it belongs to, or who posted it on social media.