Missing Fremont teen Katie Hong: What we know

FREMONT, Calif. (KRON) — Katie Hong, a 16-year-old Fremont girl, went missing on July 25. Katie left home to meet with people who she only knew through the internet. She left a note behind, took her computer, and her online activities went silent.

Tuesday marks Day 11 of Katie’s disappearance as her parents continue their desperate search to find her.

Where is Katie Hong?

The teenager was last seen July 25 at 6:21 p.m. wearing a Navy blue jacket, grey sweat pants, and a red Patagonia backpack, police said. She carried her desktop computer out of her house on Queens Park Court and walked alone to Irvington Community Park in Fremont, according to police.

The Fremont Police Department wrote, “Katie was seen on multiple surveillance cameras walking alone from her residence on Queens Park Court on July 25th between 6:11 p.m. and 6:21 p.m. to Irvington Community Park.”

Katie was usually very active on online gaming platforms, police said, and she had several screen names for her accounts. She used the chatting app Discord, which is one of the most popular ways gamers communicate online.

Her internet activities suddenly stopped after she left home, according to FPD.

For reasons that remain unclear, Katie’s cellphone was ditched in the park, eliminating detectives’ ability to track her through the phone’s GPS location.

No one has seen or heard from Katie since.

“Prior to her being missing, Katie was very active on various digital platforms, including gaming platforms, and used multiple screen names on these platforms. Since being reported missing, investigators have not located a digital footprint that was left directly by Katie,” the Fremont Police Department wrote.

Police wrote, “The last time Katie was seen on surveillance video was walking through the gas station on the corner of Blacow Road and Grimmer Blvd, walking south towards the Irvington Community Park. The last location of record for Katie’s phone is at Irvington Community Park around the time depicted on video surveillance.”

The missing teen is 5-feet-tall and weighs 100 pounds.

Who did Katie Hong communicate with online?

So far, detectives have been unable to identify the people who Katie met online.

“Information obtained through search warrants and court orders has not yielded information in learning who Katie may be with. Analysis at this time does not suggest Katie has had previous physical encounters with these online screen names,” FPD wrote.

In a note that she left at home, Katie said her plan was to run away, police said.

The police department said, “The note expressed an intention of ‘running away’ and to potentially meet with individuals known only by online screen names.”

Police classified Katie as an at-risk runaway juvenile.

On Tuesday afternoon, Lt. Calvin Tang told KRON4, “There’s a high level of concern right now. Katie is 16 years old. She’s never run away from home (before). More importantly, we haven’t heard from her in 11 days. Based on those cumulative factors, there is a significant risk of safety for Katie.”

Detectives said they are following all potential leads, and they need help from the public. “Please spread the word and help us bring Katie home,” FPD wrote.

Parents hire private investigators

In addition to relying on the police department, Katie’s parents are hiring private investigators with hopes of tracking down her whereabouts. The mother and father, who are both deaf, stepped away from their jobs to search for their daughter around-the-clock.

The family created a GoFundMe account set up to raise money for the search effort.

A verified GoFundMe page states, “We are desperate to bring her home. Katie is a vibrant, intelligent, and beautiful young woman. Her smile lights up every room, and she has always been mature beyond her years. As the daughter of two deaf parents, Katie has played an essential and selfless role in our family, always helping, always supporting, always loving. The family is doing everything in their power to find her.”

Katie has a younger sister.

How to contact Fremont police

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fremont Police Investigations Unit at 510-790-6900, or Text “Tip FremontPD” followed by your message to 888-777. You can also send tips through the police department’s website.