Celina Janette Mays 12 yrs old, 9 mths pregnant. Missing since 1996

[anthrobones]

Celina Janette Mays
Missing since December 16, 1996 from Willingboro, Burlington County, New Jersey
Classification: Endangered Missing

Vital Statistics
Date Of Birth: May 28, 1984
Age at Time of Disappearance: 12 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'0"; 120 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: Black / Hispanic female. Very long and wavy black hair; brown eyes; Celina's eyebrows grow together. Medium complexion.
Clothing: Long red coat
Medical: She was 9 months pregnant at the time of her disappearance.

Circumstances of Disappearance
Mays was last seen in Willingboro, New Jersey on December 16, 1996.
Authorities said Celina had gone to church - the Gospel of Christ Ministries Inc. in Mount Holly - with family members and then came home for dinner and dessert. Without explanation, police have said, she told a cousin "thanks for everything." A few hours later, the young girl who was due to give birth before the end of the year, stuffed a pillow into her bed, grabbed a few precious possessions and disappeared into the night.
Right after her disappearance, Celina was supposedly spotted in Lacey and Hopewell townships but the leads did not pan out.
She did not take any extra clothing with her and left all of her personal items at home as well.
It is believed she has given birth and may be in need of medical assistance.
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1577dfnj.html

[Spazkat9696]

Why was a 12 year old pregnant? I bet she ran of with the dad and he killed her.

[outofthedark]

The people investigating the case said there's some hope based the types of leads they were getting

[SadieMae]

Why was a 12 year old pregnant? I bet she ran of with the dad and he killed her.
I had the read the thread title 3 times! 12 & pregnant? I hope that wasn't her outcome Spazkat. I'm hoping she ran off with the baby's father and he's taking care of them. Best case scenario considering the circumstances. Maybe they are afraid of him going to jail if she's found and staying in hiding. At least that's what I'm hoping.

[outofthedark]

Considering her case, the only thing you can wish for is that she just ran away and is safe somewhere. Right now, she'd be a 24 year old woman with an 11 year old child. Maybe LE should check school records in the States for any 11 year old children attending school who might be her child, one of the only ways to ever find her unless she changed her name

[Zanko]

I think the questions that would have to be answered are: Who was the unborn child's father? Was Celina a victim of incest? Was the father of the unborn child more than 3 years her senior? What was her family's plan for the baby after it was born? Was she in opposition to decisions being made about the baby? Was there anyone at the church that offered her an alternative to her family's plans? If her family wanted her to give the child up for adoption, did she not want to do this? If her family wanted to raise the child, did she not want that? Did someone offer to raise her and her baby? I would look into adults that had access to her that were involved in her church that may have "disappeared" around the same time.

[teonspaleprincess]

There was a girl in my town who was the spitting image of this girl, and she had a child. I reported it, but I guess it didn't pan out. My mom thought I was crazy!

[Zanko]

teonspareprincess, did you report your possible siting to:

Willingboro Police Department, Detective Al Kelley at
609-877-2200 extension 6268, using Agency Case Number:
NCIC Number: M-986381735 ?

[kygal]

I would think that a 12 year old that was any stage of pregnant would be VERY noticable. Makes me wonder about what her life was like before she disappeared to get into this situation. :(

Do we know if they checked hospitals regionally for someone that age having a baby? It would certainly seem that she'd have complications from her age and body maturity. My hope is that she got to a hospital, as if she didn't she could have died in childbirth.

Also, were there any babies found abandoned in the area at the time? Perhaps one of these could have been her child. It wouldn't answer what happened to her, but it could give us some more information on what happened.

[kygal]

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/m/mays_celina.html

Seems there IS more to the story than on the Doe page. I am thinking that this was planned -- and that she has no intention of returning to her family.

[teonspaleprincess]

teonspareprincess, did you report your possible siting to:

Willingboro Police Department, Detective Al Kelley at
609-877-2200 extension 6268, using Agency Case Number:
NCIC Number: M-986381735 ?

No, I believe that I called 1-800-the-lost. It's been a while since I have seen her around, this was a few years ago, but from NJ to NC isn't that big a jump.

[Spazkat9696]

kygal~from your link I am guessing she still has not collected on her mother's life ins. I would think that at 12 she would have been aware of the life ins. I wonder why the dad would not help out the police? I am thinking maybe he was the dad and he killed her to cover up his being the father. The sad thing is my brother and I are 11 years apart and I could not imagine having to raise a child so close to my own age.

[lostwithoutyou]

teonspaleprincess, even if you havent seen her in a while, its worth calling the willingboro police dept. it might not be her, but there is always a chance.