The search for 13-year-old Evelin E. Inestroza in Gwinnett County has gripped Norcross and beyond. Surveillance footage shows the young girl stepping into the back seat of a blue Toyota Corolla outside her East Hill neighborhood home. That was the last time anyone saw her. Detectives are now racing against time to identify the car and track her down.
Evelin’s father said he dropped her off at school around 9 a.m. on September 29. By evening, when she hadn’t returned home, he reported her missing. Hours later, investigators pulled video showing her walking calmly toward the waiting car. The driver remains unknown, and police have not confirmed whether Evelin knew the person behind the wheel.
The Corolla stands out with aftermarket wheels, a detail detectives hope will help the public recognize it. Flyers and BOLO alerts have gone out across metro Atlanta. Police believe Evelin may still be in the area, but her exact whereabouts remain a mystery. Investigators are combing through social media and internet activity, convinced she has been communicating online despite not being given a phone by her family.
Her family says Evelin has left home without permission before, but this time feels different. They worry she may be caught up with the wrong people. The thought of her climbing into that car has left them shaken. “She’s just a child,” one relative said, “and she doesn’t know the dangers out there.”
Detectives have been working nonstop, tracing IP addresses and online contacts. They believe Evelin has access to a phone and may be using it to stay in touch with people she met online. That possibility has widened the search, making it harder to pin down her location. Still, police insist they are following every lead.
Evelin is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighing about 128 pounds, with a birthmark on the back of her neck. She was last seen wearing a pink sweatshirt, light blue jeans, and tan Crocs. Her family hopes those details will help someone recognize her if she’s spotted in public.
Gwinnett County Police are urging anyone with information to call detectives at 770-513-5300. Anonymous tips can also be made through Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS. For her family, every passing hour feels heavier. They just want her home safe.
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