Missing 14-Year-Old Girl’s Family Believes She Was Lured Away from Home After Meeting Somebody Online: ‘This Is a Nightmare’

The family of a 14-year-old girl missing in Georgia fears she may have been lured by someone she met online.

Amy Reidling’s stepmother, Ginny Rutledge, realized the teen was missing from their DeKalb County home on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 21, according to NBC affiliate 11Alive.

On Monday, Sept. 22, the DeKalb County Police Department posted on Facebook that Amy was last seen at around 2 p.m. local time at her residence on the 1900 block of Janet Lane in Decatur.

Police confirmed that Amy is 5 feet 1 inch tall, weighs 105 lbs., and has brown eyes and brown hair with bangs.

A spokesperson for the DeKalb County Police Department told PEOPLE on Wednesday, Sept. 24, that no further information was available.

“The investigation is ongoing and active. As with any missing child case in our community, our officers are searching diligently to bring Amy home,” the spokesperson said in an email.

Amy had been preparing for her homecoming this weekend and was shopping for accessories to match her dress on the day she went missing, according to 11Alive.

Her stepmother Rutledge described the ordeal as “a nightmare.” She recalled, “I opened the door, and she was gone. Tore the house apart, called 911 at 9:15 [p.m.]. No one’s messages have been read. Every time we call, it goes straight to voicemail.”

Amy’s father and stepmother have since hired a private investigator. Rutledge told the outlet that the public has also been helping with the search, putting up flyers and canvassing the area.

“You don’t even understand how many people are here helping to find you,” she said in a message to her daughter. “And we all want you back.”

Amy’s parents suspect she may have been coached by someone online before being lured from her home.

“There’s a lot she doesn’t know, and especially in a big city like Atlanta,” Rutledge told 11Alive.

“I’m positive that she was taken … Amy, we love you, we miss you. We want you here. You’re my girl, you’re my person. I miss you. Please come back,” she added.

“Please let us know you’re okay if you can. Be safe, fight hard,” Rutledge pleaded with her stepdaughter.