Found Alive NY - Hannah Upp, New York City, 29 Aug 2008

gaia227 · #1 09-05-2008, 02:13 PM

When Hannah Upp, a NYC schoolteacher, failed to show up for the first day of classes on Tuesday her friends and family knew something was definitely wrong.
Hannah told friends she was going away for the weekend (another source says going to her parents--so this is unclear) and would be back Sat. or Sunday. The last time her ATM card was used was to purchase one movie ticket for a theater in Times Sq (either Loews or AMC). When Hannah did not return home on Monday roommates went into her room and found her wallet, ATM card, metrocard, passport, drivers license all left behind. They have peppered their Hamilton Heights neighborhood with flyers and have taken to the internet to try and find Hannah.

From the Facebook account that has been set up:

The last time anyone saw her was around 2pm on the afternoon of Friday, August 29th. According to her roommates, Manny and Sam, she had been planning to go away for the weekend but intended to return on Saturday, perhaps Sunday at the latest. When they had neither seen nor heard from Hannah on Sunday afternoon, they began calling her but each time it went straight to voicemail.

By Monday evening they were getting frantic and so they went into her room, where they discovered her keys, her phone, and her handbag containing her wallet. Her ATM card, her subway card, and her ID (right now just her passport) were all in there. They began calling those of us they recognized from her phone contacts, but no-one knew where she was - apparently people had been trying to get in touch with her since Thursday. As it became clear that no-one knew where she was, Manny and I talked and, with support from others, decided that the police should become involved....
continued at link
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...7660472&ref=nf

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=5735316&page=1

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/...hin_air-2.html

soyesterday · #2 09-05-2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaia227

When Hannah Upp, a NYC schoolteacher, failed to show up for the first day of classes on Tuesday her friends and family knew something was definitely wrong.
Hannah told friends she was going away for the weekend (another source says going to her parents--so this is unclear) and would be back Sat. or Sunday. The last time her ATM card was used was to purchase one movie ticket for a theater in Times Sq (either Loews or AMC). When Hannah did not return home on Monday roommates went into her room and found her wallet, ATM card, metrocard, passport, drivers license all left behind. They have peppered their Hamilton Heights neighborhood with flyers and have taken to the internet to try and find Hannah.

From the Facebook account that has been set up:

The last time anyone saw her was around 2pm on the afternoon of Friday, August 29th. According to her roommates, Manny and Sam, she had been planning to go away for the weekend but intended to return on Saturday, perhaps Sunday at the latest. When they had neither seen nor heard from Hannah on Sunday afternoon, they began calling her but each time it went straight to voicemail.

By Monday evening they were getting frantic and so they went into her room, where they discovered her keys, her phone, and her handbag containing her wallet. Her ATM card, her subway card, and her ID (right now just her passport) were all in there. They began calling those of us they recognized from her phone contacts, but no-one knew where she was - apparently people had been trying to get in touch with her since Thursday. As it became clear that no-one knew where she was, Manny and I talked and, with support from others, decided that the police should become involved....
continued at link
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...7660472&ref=nf

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=5735316&page=1

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/...hin_air-2.html

Oh no.
This sounds really bad.
So noone has seen her since Thursday and all of her things were left behind.

I wonder where she was planning on going for the weekend if not her parents.
Does she have a boyfriend? An exboyfriend?
Are Manny and Sam both guys...just curious...

I love NYC! It's my absolute favorite city in the United States. Reading about her going to the movie in Time Square and things like that sounds like so much fun to me.
It's sad and scary that she is missing....
I hope she is found safe soon.

I also wonder how far away her family lives and if her and her roomates lived right in the City or not.

gaia227 · #3 09-05-2008, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soyesterday

Oh no.
This sounds really bad.
So noone has seen her since Thursday and all of her things were left behind.

I wonder where she was planning on going for the weekend if not her parents.
Does she have a boyfriend? An exboyfriend?
Are Manny and Sam both guys...just curious...

I love NYC! It's my absolute favorite city in the United States. Reading about her going to the movie in Time Square and things like that sounds like so much fun to me.
It's sad and scary that she is missing....
I hope she is found safe soon.

I also wonder how far away her family lives and if her and her roomates lived right in the City or not.

Hi soyesterday! I am glad you love New York so much, so do I. It is a great city to visit and a greater city to live in (if you can figure out a way to afford it). However, I tend to avoid Times Square like the plague although I do find myself going to the AMC 25 because it has lots of movies and good theaters but normally I try to go to the Clearview Theater further uptown by Lincoln Center.

To answer your question regarding her roommates - they live in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood in which is considered part of Harlem (which is in Manhattan). A lot of students live in the area because of the proximity to Columbia University. I have actually looked at apartments in that area but settled on further uptown.

I am pretty sure her family is in Pennsylvania ( i could be wrong, recalling only from memory). I would imagine if she does not have a car that she would take a train out of Grand Central or Penn Station but from what I have gathered she never purchased a train ticket.

But yeah, it does not sound good. Her friends and family have really been working the internet and media to get the word out. I have seen it mentioned more than once today on NY1, the local news station that focuses on just news in Manhattan and the borroughs.

Soulscape · #4 09-05-2008, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaia227

<snipped>

The last time her ATM card was used was to purchase one movie ticket for a theater in Times Sq (either Loews or AMC). When Hannah did not return home on Monday roommates went into her room and found her wallet, ATM card, metrocard, passport, drivers license all left behind.

<snipped>

From the Facebook account that has been set up:

[i]The last time anyone saw her was around 2pm on the afternoon of Friday, August 29th.
...

By Monday evening they were getting frantic and so they went into her room, where they discovered her keys, her phone, and her handbag containing her wallet. Her ATM card,

...

Two questions:

1. Does anyone know the date & time she (or someone!) used her ATM debit card to purchase the movie ticket? (Was the ATM/debit card used after 2:30pm on 8/29??)

2. Can anyone provide Hannah Upp's date of birth?

Thanks,
Soulscape

SteveHuff · #5 09-05-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soulscape

Two questions:

1. Does anyone know the date & time she (or someone!) used her ATM debit card to purchase the movie ticket? (Was the ATM/debit card used after 2:30pm on 8/29??)

2. Can anyone provide Hannah Upp's date of birth?

Thanks,
Soulscape

Soulscape, I spoke to Arielle Schechter, one of the people running the Facebook group -- Hannah made that ATM withdrawal on Thursday. From what I learned, everyone is reasonably sure she was the one who made it. Forty dollars -- a normal withdrawal. Didn't think to get her exact date of birth, but I can.

Everyone -- I began a thread for this already in Missing Persons Information & Support:

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70408

Sadly, after the research I did and after talking to Arielle, I am worried that it's just as appropriate to have a thread here, too.

Steve

Soulscape · #6 09-05-2008, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveHuff

Soulscape, I spoke to Arielle Schechter, one of the people running the Facebook group -- Hannah made that ATM withdrawal on Thursday. From what I learned, everyone is reasonably sure she was the one who made it. Forty dollars -- a normal withdrawal. Didn't think to get her exact date of birth, but I can.

Everyone -- I began a thread for this already in Missing Persons Information & Support:

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70408

Sadly, after the research I did and after talking to Arielle, I am worried that it's just as appropriate to have a thread here, too.

Steve

Steve, according to news stories she was born in Portland OR. If you can get her birth date that would be great. If you can get her TIME OF BIRTH that would be awesome. Would the mother consider providing?

Thank you,
Soulscape

SteveHuff · #7 09-06-2008, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soulscape

Steve, according to news stories she was born in Portland OR. If you can get her birth date that would be great. If you can get her TIME OF BIRTH that would be awesome. Would the mother consider providing?

Thank you,
Soulscape

Couldn't get time of birth, but I do have the date: November 29, 1984.

Soulscape · #8 09-07-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveHuff

Couldn't get time of birth, but I do have the date: November 29, 1984.

Thank you, Steve. I will review the posts on this thread, study the charts and see if I can come up with anything helpful from a forensic astrological perspective.

~~Soulscape

gaia227 · #9 09-05-2008, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveHuff

Soulscape, I spoke to Arielle Schechter, one of the people running the Facebook group -- Hannah made that ATM withdrawal on Thursday. From what I learned, everyone is reasonably sure she was the one who made it. Forty dollars -- a normal withdrawal. Didn't think to get her exact date of birth, but I can.

Everyone -- I began a thread for this already in Missing Persons Information & Support:

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70408

Sadly, after the research I did and after talking to Arielle, I am worried that it's just as appropriate to have a thread here, too.

Steve

Hi Steve. Thanks for the info. I did a search before I started this thread but didn't come up with anything - this seems to happen alot and I hope it isn't just me!

I am glad to see you are aware of her disappearence - a lot of people read your blog, including me.

I posted on the facebook page letting them know a thread had been started here and posted a link so hopefully some of Hannah's friends will pop by.

Wrinkles · #10 09-06-2008, 03:23 AM

Okay... Long thought process on this... In fact, so long, I may have gone in some circles...

Hello All,

I don't like how this situation with Hannah feels at all and I, like I'm sure that her many loved ones, have a lot of questions.

With all due respect to all who care about her...

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=5735316&page=1
>>Upp's two roommates, a man and a woman, became worried about her Sunday night when they hadn't heard from her, roommate Samantha Gallardo, 25, told ABCNews.com.<<

Wondering how long Hannah had lived in this apartment with her roommates. When did the roommates last see Hannah? What was her demeanor, what was she doing at the time. Were the roommates at the apt. on Thursday? Friday? Saturday? Sunday? Did Hannah sleep at the apartment on Thursday night? By herself (i.e. not with a bedmate)? Did anyone talk to her on Thursday night, i.e. at the apartment and/or on the phone? Who spoke with her, what was the content of the conversation. Did the roommates see Hannah on Friday morning? Did anyone speak with Hannah on the phone on Friday morning? Who? What was the content/reason for the call, what was Hannah's demeanor?

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=5735316&page=1
>>was last seen Friday afternoon, Aug. 29, in her apartment by a friend<<

Wondering which friend said they saw Hannah at 2PM on Friday. Did that friend know Hannah's school/work schedule? Was the friend actually "in the apartment" with her? What was the context of the visit with Hannah? What was the relationship with the friend (girl/guy friend? intimate?) For how long did the friend see Hannah (when did they arrive/leave), did they speak with her or were they at the apartment for some other reason (what reason)? What was the conversation about, what was Hannah's attitude/demeanor at the time?

ALSO:
AT NYDailynews.com
>>Hannah Upp was last seen by a friend at about 2 p.m. last Friday as she was getting ready to leave her Hamilton Heights apartment for a school function at nearby Thurgood Marshall Academy.<<

At what level of preparation was Hannah to leave for that function at the time? Was she dressed and ready to go? What type of function was this, what time was the function, was that stated to/by the friend? By the school? How did she usually get to the school, walk, bike, car, bus, metro, ride with someone (with who?) How long had this friend known Hannah, how did they meet? Were the roommates also there at the time of this friend's visit? Did they know this friend was coming to see Hannah, had she mentioned this? Might they have expected the visit, i.e. was it common for her to see this friend on a workday, at the apartment?

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=5735316&page=1
>>According to Gallardo, Upp's other roommate, fellow teacher Manny Ramirez, searched her room and saw that her purse, wallet, cell phone, ATM card and subway card were all there.<<

The NYDailynews article said they found her keys (house, car?)

Did Manny teach at the same school as Hannah? Was he supposed to attend the same function that Hannah was? Did he go to it?

Did anyone see Hannah at the work/school function that she was supposed to attend? Was everyone that was supposed to attend that function at the function? Who was missing from it?

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=5735316&page=1
>>The disappearance of a young New York City school teacher just days before classes began has launched a massive search by her army of friends.<<

Also from the above noted NYDailynews article:
>>A 23-year-old schoolteacher disappeared from her Manhattan apartment days before classes started<<

Obviously school classes had not yet begun. So the function had to do with pre-class planning? Or what? Had Hannah expressed to anyone any concerns about this function?

From the above noted NYDailynews article:
>>she was getting ready to leave her Hamilton Heights apartment for a school function at nearby Thurgood Marshall Academy.<<

Hamilton Heights

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...7660472&ref=mf
She teaches middle school Spanish at Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social Change, at W. 135th and 7th Ave.

Just looking at Google for distance from Hamilton Heights to Thurgood Marshall Academy, this appears to only be a 1 or 2 mile distance, maybe not even that, depending upon where Hannah lived in Hamilton Heights.

Did Hannah walk to functions? There is a big park which appears to be between where she lived and the school.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...7660472&ref=mf
>>According to her roommates, Manny and Sam, she had been planning to go away for the weekend but intended to return on Saturday, perhaps Sunday at the latest. When they had neither seen nor heard from Hannah on Sunday afternoon, they began calling her but each time it went straight to voicemail.<<

Obviously Hannah spent time informing her roommates of her whereabouts. How often did she follow through on returning when she said she would?

Part II next

Wrinkles · #11 09-06-2008, 03:34 AM

Part II of thinking...

From the above noted NYDailynews article:
>>The Bryn Mawr, Pa., graduate last used her debit card that day to go to a movie alone in Times Square and told friends she was spending the weekend at her mother's home in Philadelphia.<<

Who said she was going to a movie alone? On Friday? A work day, a day that she was also to leave for her mom's for a weekend? Before she was to go to work? Before her friend saw her? Was her debit card her ATM card too? If so, that was left at the house supposedly (or did she have more than one)? Was the debit card used at the movie itself? Was this an advanced ticket purchase (was she going to go later after the school function)? Were their cameras at that movie house? What movie? Was she supposed to meet someone there? How often did she ever say that she went to a movie alone? Was this her custom to do? With whom did she usually go to movies? How did she travel.

I'm not sure where this whole movie thing plays into the time line.

Okay...she had told friends (which ones) that she was going to her mother's. How did she usually get to her mothers? Drive? Train? Did her mother expect her to visit, on what day was she to arrive? Approx. a 2 hour drive? Did she have a car? Her roommates noted these things "her purse, wallet, cell phone, ATM card and subway card were all there" -- car keys? If she had a car, where was it normally parked? No one saw it there or missing? or that it was there instead of gone on a trip was not suspicious? Was someone else going to drive her to Philadelphia? Train? Do tickets for that have to be purchased in advance? Were they?

Upon which day did Hannah say she would be leaving to go away for the weekend (the Friday)? Was anyone supposed to travel with Hannah when she left for the weekend? Did Hannah have a customary time that she would leave to go to her mom's? Did she have a customary bag she packed, was it packed in part or in whole?

If Hannah said that she would return "at the latest" by Sunday, was there any reason why her roommates would not be concerned on Saturday or Sunday afternoon? Again, were they at the apartment on those days?

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...7660472&ref=mf
>>They began calling those of us they recognized from her phone contacts, but no-one knew where she was - apparently people had been trying to get in touch with her since Thursday.<<

Was it customary for her to not call people back? People had been trying to get in touch with her since Thursday? Thursday at what time, and did she generally call those people back promptly? So where did Hannah sleep on Thursday night and who saw her that night?

Also NY Daily news article:
>>When she hadn't returned Monday, her roommates began to panic. Calls to her cell phone went straight to voice mail, and calls to her friends turned up only others concerned for her whereabouts.<<

But http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=5735316&page=1
>>"My roommate woke me up and we went down to the police station. They didn't seem too concerned about it at first, but at 4 a.m. that night there were already detectives in our apartment," Gallardo said. "There's been police in our apartment since."<<

So, on what day did the roommates get concerned? Sunday night, early Monday morning?

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...7660472&ref=mf
>>When she didn't show up for work on Tuesday (her first day of teaching), and it became apparent that she had not gone on Friday either, the police decided it was time to file a Missing Persons Report.<<

So...she didn't go to work on Friday? And someone saw her at 2PM on Friday? Was her only event for work that function or was she supposed to be there earlier and did not go? If she was late in getting to the event, how would she travel? Taxi? Any calls to Taxi companies for her address? Did they go and try to pick her up and she wasn't there?

How often did Hannah leave her house without a purse, wallet, cell phone and keys? Would she roam around the apartment complex without these? (to a laundry room or otherwise?) Did Hannah have any fears about anyone in the apartment house? Was this a secured complex?

Is there a video camera in the apartment complex, or one anywhere nearby? Might anyone have captured her walking away from the apartments on a neighboring video camera?

But why wasn't she returning phone calls on Thursday and did she have any dumpster diving planned for Thursday evenings or Friday mornings, any routine?

From the above noted NYDailynews article:
>>Upp graduated from the Pennsylvania Seven Sisters school in 2007 and moved to New York City, where she has been teaching at Thurgood Marshall, volunteering for AIDS organizations and working toward her master's degree in education at Pace University.<<

On which days did Hannah volunteer, where? And when did she attend classes at Pace? Did she have any books to pick up that day for school, or library work?

I would love to think that Hannah was just overwhelmed and fled with a rescuer for a few days, but this seems absolutely unlikely UNLESS she was major stressed and did the "crazy thing."

There is much to this story that is missing...

Wrinkles

MagnoliaMom · #12 09-06-2008, 03:09 PM

did i miss something? why have they not pinged her phone?

ucralum · #13 09-06-2008, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagnoliaMom

did i miss something? why have they not pinged her phone?

I believe her phone was found in her room; her roommates used it to find phone numbers of Hannah's friends to call (no personal knowledge--info from articles referenced earlier in the thread.) HTH!

Wrinkles · #14 09-06-2008, 03:19 PM

Hello Lorelei,

Thanks for the information on the travel. It helps to know which means most people would take. On the other hand, I don't know that she left that building to travel, not without keys UNLESS someone she was with had keys? I think she left that building a) flipped out (which people do not think is her personality) or b) forced or carried out. Of course, how well was the building actually searched?

EnglishLeigh, certainly some things could have been going on in her heart and mind that others didn't know, which could have caused her to do something crazy. There are some indications that she might have been troubled, but then again... She might have said, "No more, I don't need keys, wallet, purse, money...I'm heading for the local bridge," but ??

Evidently the building has been checked by police (the other apartments etc). Of course, we don't know how well, or how, and certainly it was a few days after she had gone missing. I wonder if they took dogs in, if anyone has.

How about films/videos of nearby buildings? Anything capturing traffic in and out of that apartment house's exits from Friday to when the police checked. If the building itself did not have video, are there exits from Hannah's building that another nearby building might have captured as she and/or someone walked away from there? Or as someone carried something away from there?

We are not getting answers to the many questions. So I am wondering who knew Hannah during those days, who was having relationship and communicating with her in the days and months before, who was the friend that saw her on that Friday. I certainly wish some of those people would pop in, and help us out. On the other hand, I wonder if the police have told them not to talk?

EDITED: IS THERE ANYONE IN THIS GROUP that could go to the friend's Facebook page and ask the friends of Hannah to come and help us with questions/answers?

ALSO: Who is good at finding people's blogs... Evidently Hannah had one and wrote about her discontent about NY schools, so can we learn anything at her blog? Maybe one of her friends can tell us where her blog is.

Wrinkles

Columbo · #15 09-06-2008, 04:40 PM

There's something very strange about the fact that she left without her keys, wallet, phone, etc. I've lived in NYC, and I wouldn't have left my apartment without keys, at the very least. There are locks the entry doors to most buildings and you'd be locked out if you stepped outside and the door closed.

MagnoliaMom · #16 09-06-2008, 04:43 PM

thank you ucralem!

here is an article on freegans with her picture. the 9 pm - 12 am part is a disturbing time to search for food http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/...citys_bou.html

"Freegans say that between 9 p.m. and midnight, almost everything that can be found on the shelves of a supermarket can be found in a supermarket's trash and in Dumpsters - and in edible form."

soyesterday · #17 09-06-2008, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagnoliaMom

thank you ucralem!

here is an article on freegans with her picture. the 9 pm - 12 am part is a disturbing time to search for food http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/...citys_bou.html

"Freegans say that between 9 p.m. and midnight, almost everything that can be found on the shelves of a supermarket can be found in a supermarket's trash and in Dumpsters - and in edible form."

Ok i don't get this...
what's up w/ all the dumpster stuff?
did i miss something?

Wrinkles · #18 09-06-2008, 05:00 PM

Howdy Magnolia Mom and SoYesterday,

Good find on that freegan thing with Hannah's picture. I was trying to figure out if the sign in that photo could be read. Certainly the freegan buddies know where that picture was taken.

Found this too: Locations for diving in Manhattan
http://freegan.info/?page=Manhattan

SoYesterday, Hannah is a freegan, a person who does dumpster diving. We don't know if her disappearance has anything to do with it, probably not, but who knows.

Wrinkles

soyesterday · #19 09-07-2008, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrinkles

Howdy Magnolia Mom and SoYesterday,

Good find on that freegan thing with Hannah's picture. I was trying to figure out if the sign in that photo could be read. Certainly the freegan buddies know where that picture was taken.

Found this too: Locations for diving in Manhattan
http://freegan.info/?page=Manhattan

SoYesterday, Hannah is a freegan, a person who does dumpster diving. We don't know if her disappearance has anything to do with it, probably not, but who knows.

Wrinkles

But why?
I don't understand. For fun? For work? For what reason? I've never heard of this before. I think i must not be getting something here.
Why would someone do this?
I have to go look some of this up.
I have no idea what's going on w/ this "freegan" thing.

MagnoliaMom · #20 09-06-2008, 05:59 PM

here is her linkedin page. i wanted to view her profile but you have to be a member. anyone a member?
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/4/A2B/981

Mama Lioness · #21 09-09-2008, 02:46 PM

Not only do you have to be a member...you have to be an "upgraded" member to view anything but the public profile.

Another characteristic of NYC buildings is laundry facilities and trash in the basement. Is it possible that Hanna went to the basement for laundry or to take the trash out . I know the building has probably been swept but has any laundry been found belonging to her? Look into that.

Sheromom · #22 09-09-2008, 03:10 PM

Good grief! If it turns out to be that she did this of her own free will, I don't think she needs to be "teaching" kids anything!

MaedchenX · #23 09-09-2008, 03:30 PM

I am so happy there appears to be some good news in this case! I think in cases like these it is important to reserve judgment, there is no way of knowing her motivations or psychological state. As someone who had a family member who was once a runaway, I hope Sarah knows she is loved and can go home to those who will still accept her regardless of her choices.

MagnoliaMom · #24 09-06-2008, 06:02 PM

someone on facebook has notified them to come over here http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...7660472&ref=nf
"Phaedra wrote at 1:29pm
The people at websleuths have opened a "case" on Hannah and are asking for friends with information to help. The link's above and here, just thought I'd pass the word along. Anything can help, especially the more minds get working on something. http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70415"

MagnoliaMom · #25 09-06-2008, 07:11 PM

she shows up as a member of this message board
http://dumpsterdiving.meetup.com/4/m...ime&desc=1&op=

they were suppose to be having a meeting and do some dumpster diving on 9/1/08
http://dumpsterdiving.meetup.com/4/m...thread/5347152

someone should post a message on their board that she is missing and ask when they last heard from her and if she was planning to attend this.