Katie Hong, Fremont teen who vanished without a trace, has been missing almost two weeks

(KRON) — Katie Hong, a Fremont teen who left home to meet with people she only knew from online chat platforms, has now been missing for nearly two weeks. Thursday marks Day 13 of Katie’s disappearance and in the nearly two weeks since she was last seen, there has been precious little new information regarding her whereabouts.

Here’s what we know at this time.

When did Katie Hong disappear?

Katie was last seen on Friday, July 25. Around 8:55 p.m. that evening, the Fremont Police Department were dispatched on a report of a missing juvenile who was reported missing from the family home.

Who is Katie Hong?

Katie is a 16-year-old female Korean American. She is approximately 5 feet tall and weighs 100 pounds with brown eyes, braces and dark brown hair. She was last seen wearing a large, red Patagonia backpack, a navy-blue mid zip-up jacket, and grey sweats.

In an online fundraiser organized by her family, Katie is described as a “vibrant, intelligent, and beautiful young woman” with a smile that “lights up every room.” She was also described as “mature beyond her years.”

Katie is the daughter of two deaf parents and also has a younger sister.

Where did Katie go?

According to Fremont PD, Katie left behind a note that expressed the intention of “running away” to potentially meet with people she only knew by online screen names. The note, police said, indicated that these people wouldn’t provide her with their real names.

Katie does not appear to have met these people prior to July 25, the day she disappeared.

When was Katie last seen?

Katie was caught on multiple surveillance cameras walking alone from her family home on Queens Park Court on July 25 between 6:11 p.m. and 6:21 p.m., more than three hours before police were contacted. At the time, she was on her way to Irvington Community Park, according to her note.

The last time Katie was caught on surveillance was at a gas station at the corner of Blacow Road and Grimmer Boulevard, heading south toward the park. At the time, she was carrying what appeared to be a desktop computer.

The last recorded location of Katie’s phone was at Irvington Community Park, where police said her phone was left behind.

What else do we know?

Katie was very active on digital platforms, including online gaming. Police say she used multiple screen names across various platforms, including Discord. However, since her disappearance, all of her handles have apparently gone dark, with investigators unable to locate a digital footprint directly attributed to her.

Police say that based on “cumulative, verifiable evidence,” Katie is believed to be voluntarily missing.

Has Katie Hong been found?

Katie has not been found at this time. Police are continuing to work with her family to identify all potential investigative leads to locate her. Fremont PD said that investigators are deploying all available law enforcement resources, including license plate readers, online search tools, and surveillance footage.

Federal agencies are also involved in the effort to locate Katie.

Additionally, Katie’s parents have hired private investigators to help find her. They have both stepped away from their jobs in order to dedicate themselves full-time to locating her.

The Hong family has set up a GoFundMe to help raise funds for paying investigators, legal and communication support, counseling for Katie’s younger sister, and daily living expenses. The family said that any unused funds from the fundraiser will be donated to non-profit organizations that focus on finding and rescuing missing children.

“We believe with all our hearts that Katie will come home,” the fundraiser reads. “Your support brings us one step closer to that reality.”

Due to the circumstances around her disappearance, the Fremont Police Department considers Katie at-risk. Detectives are following all potential leads regarding Katie’s disappearance.

Anyone who sees Katie, or has information regarding her whereabouts, is asked to contact the Fremont PD Investigations Unit at (510) 790-6900, or to text “Tip FremontPD” followed by your message to 888-777. Tips can also be submitted via the Fremont Police Department website.