UPDATE: 15-Year-Old Girl Missing From Petaluma Shopping Center

UPDATE FRIDAY 2:10PM-

Petaluma Police confirmed Friday afternoon 15-year-old East Palo Alto resident Hope Seagler and 19-year-old Petaluma resident Andrew Joseph Newman have been located at a house in Redwood City. A confidential tip led authorities to the pair.

Newman is now in custody, arrested on a previous warrant, and arrangements are being made to return Seagler to her East Palo Alto home.

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(original story)

PETALUMA - A 15-year-old East Palo Alto girl - brought to a Petaluma shopping center by her grandmother to meet a 19-year-old online boyfriend - has disappeared.

According to Petaluma Police, Hope Seagler was reported missing by the grandmother on Saturday, February 13 just before 6:00 p.m.

Seagler had been brought to the Petaluma Target Shopping Center by her grandmother to meet Seagler’s boyfriend of several months, Andrew Joseph Newman of Petaluma.

Police say Newman and Seagler maintained a long-distance relationship and are believed to have met online. Seagler changed her Facebook profile to identify herself as “Hope Newman.”

When Seagler did not show up at the designated time to be picked up by her grandmother, she became concerned. Authorities say the grandmother said she could not reach Seagler by phone.

Petaluma officers checked addresses associated with Newman in Petaluma, and discovered he had removed a GPS ankle bracelet he was required to wear stemming from a conviction for a 2014 case of misdemeanor domestic violence and false imprisonment vs. a previous girlfriend.

The GPS bracelet was meant to monitor Newman’s movements and restrict him from approaching the victim in the 2014 case; Newman was not on home confinement.

Seagler has not been in contact with family or friends. She has has family/contacts in Visalia and East Palo Alto; Newman has family/contacts in Lucerne and Brentwood.

Police believe it appears Seagler has fled with Newman willingly, and they do not believe Newman intends to do her harm at this time.

However, police say Seagler suffers from bi-polar disorder and does not have her medication. Her family is concerned she may suffer a serious manic/depressive episode the longer she is without her medication.

Newman currently has a no-bail warrant for his arrest for violating his probation.

Police believe Newman and Seagler are traveling in a green 1998 Volvo four-door sedan, California license plate #3WPD421.

Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Newman and/or Seagler is asked to contact the Petaluma Police Department at 707-778-4372, or Detective Tami Shoemaker at 707-778-4444.

-image via Petaluma Police Department