Missing Rebecca, 16, read text from her best friend nine minutes before she vanished without trace but did not reply
Rebecca, right.
A missing teenager read a text message from her best friend just nine minutes before she vanished without a trace from her family home.
Rebecca Watts, 16, received a message from her friend Courtney Bicker, 17, around half an hour after she was last seen by her stepmother at their home in the St George's area of Bristol on Thursday morning.
But although a notification showed Rebecca had read the text, she did not reply. The next morning, after she failed to return home, her family called police - prompting a huge search for the college student.
Courtney said the last person Rebecca had texted was her boyfriend, named as Luke Oberhansli, 17, to make plans for later that day but he did not reply because he was at the dentist.
'I've got no idea whatsoever what has happened,' said college student Courtney.
'It's really like she has disappeared with no trace.
'I sent her a message at 11.06am and it went through to her phone, but I sent her a message the following morning and it didn't go through.
'I didn't really think much of it. I thought that maybe her phone was off and maybe she was asleep.'
She added: 'I'm just really confused and scared. I'm just literally waiting by the phone for someone to call and say she is back home.
'I like to hope she has just run away and will come back when she is ready, but this is so unlike her.
'She wouldn't go to the shops on her home. She makes someone go to the shop till for her and buy her bus ticket.
'If she was going outside she would meet somebody near by. She wouldn't walk long distances on her own.
'She wouldn't walk out at night on her own.
'When she used to come round mine, she would make me walk her back home. She doesn't like walking back in the dark.'
Rebecca was last seen at around 10.30am on Thursday when her stepmother, Anjie Galsworthy, 49, left their home for a hospital appointment.
At 11.06am, Courtney sent her a one-word message reading 'bae' - a slang term of endearment said to stand for 'before anyone else', which she used as a jokey nickname for Rebecca.
Courtney received an alert saying it had been read, but she didn't get a reply. It is thought that Rebecca left her home at 11.15am.
Courtney said texts were later sent from Rebecca's phone to her boyfriend Luke about meeting up later that day, but he did not reply because he was having dental work.
She said the pair had been dating for a few months, and his home had been searched by police, but added: 'He is in the same predicament as I am.
'The police keep searching his house. He was the last person to be in contact with her.
'She was texting Luke, but he had to go and get his braces sorted. They were going to arrange to meet after he had his braces done.
'Nobody has any idea what has happened.'
She added: 'I last heard from her on Wednesday night and we were just having a normal conversation. She seemed OK - she seemed fine.
'It was just normal banter.'
Courtney said as far as she was aware Rebecca didn't have older friends and hadn't argued with anyone in the days before her disappearance.
Her friend had a good relationship with her father, Darren Galsworthy, 51, and stepmother who have been together for many years, she added.
Distraught Mr Galsworthy has described his daughter as 'introverted', and has said the family 'fear the worst' as police investigating Rebecca's disappearance search parks around her home for clues.
Mr Galsworthy said his daughter's disappearance was out of character, as the fashion conscious teen was too shy to even pay the cashier at a shop on her own.
'Becky is introverted. She does not mix with big groups of people,' he said.
'She would not go and ask for anything or go to a till on her own - she was that kind of girl.
'This is why her disappearing is so out of character for her. I am trying to remain positive, but really starting to fear for the worst.
'This just really is a nightmare come true - I am just so worried we don't know what to do.
'She loved fashion and clothes and all she took with her was a blue quilted jacket. Her purse and bank cards are all here at home.
'If she had planned to go anywhere she would have taken her phone charger - she was never without her phone and always on Facebook.'
Rebecca, who is studying at college to resit her GCSE exams, was last seen on Thursday morning by Darren's wife Anjie, 49, who left to go to a hospital appointment at around 10.30am.
When she didn't reply to messages or return home they called police.
Rebecca's phone had initially gone straight to answer phone, and has now been switched off since Thursday. Her Facebook profile has also been dormant since Thursday.
Mrs Galsworthy said: 'She seemed OK and her normal self. There was nothing out of the blue. She was a bit grumpy, but that was not unusual - just a normal teenager.
'I went to a hospital appointment and left her at home at around 10.30am.
'We thought she might have gone and met her boyfriend and he had texted her to see if she wanted to meet, but got no response.
'We texted her later in the day to see where she was but her phone was off.
'She hadn't mentioned any plans, but would have just gone out if she had some, but she would have let us know at some point.
'The next day when she still hadn't come home we contacted the police.'
Police forensics teams have conducted 'routine' searches of Luke's home, as well as Rebecca's.
Avon and Somerset police said it was routine to carry out searches of homes belonging to people close to the missing person.
The student's family has appealed for people to join a search party near her home this afternoon.
Writing on Facebook, her uncle Joe Galsworthy said: 'Please come along, everybody friends, family and even community members.
'We need to have her home. She's missed and loved by us all and it's killing us not knowing if she is safe or not.'
Police have also been searching open ground and parks around Rebecca's home for any clues which may explain her disappearance.
A blue caravan and an empty property on the street where she lives were also being examined by officers.
'We are not reacting to any specific information, but are looking at local parks and open areas - more to see if anything might have been dropped,' a police spokesman said.
'All likely areas will be searched as routine in situations like this.'
Detective Inspector Richard Ocone, who is leading the search, has also appealed to Rebecca to come home.
'Firstly, I want to reiterate to Rebecca directly - you are in absolutely no trouble.
'We are all just worried about you and we want to make sure you are OK.
''If you can just call home, one of your friends or call us on 101, we can work with you to help work through any issues you are facing.
'I would also ask anyone who might know where Rebecca is to come forward and let us know.
'This is completely out of character for Rebecca to leave without telling her family or friends ? especially if she is not planning on coming home.'
Neighbours have expressed their shock at Rebecca's disappearance, and their sympathy for her family.
'This is every parent's worst nightmare and nothing can be said that would help them,' said Sandi Lovett, 26, who lives close by.
'But everyone round here is thinking of them and just hoping she will get back safely and very soon.
'There have been a lot of police around the area and so everyone is hopeful she will be found soon and it pays off.
'I think a public search is a great idea and I am sure hundreds of people round here would help as there is a lot of concern and worry.'
Police described Rebecca as 'striking', and said she is white, around 5ft 4ins tall and of slim build, with 'noticeable' long, bright red hair, which has only been dyed recently and recent photographs of the teenager do not reflect this change.
It is believed when she was last seen she was wearing a waist-length navy blue quilted jacket with fabric sleeves.
Anyone with information is urged to call the force number 101, quoting the reference MP 591/15. Alternatively, information can be left anonymously on Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Originally Posted by marshmallow
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