A 14-year-old New York teenager, Emmarae Gervasi, went missing on December 9 after she got inside a car outside her home. The family then searched for her for almost a month, but then a tip led to Frank Gervasi, Emmarae's father, finding his daughter on a boat.
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"I found emma !!! Please give me some time and then I will address the public in a few thanks," Frank Gervasi
wrote on Facebook. "Prayers answered." With this announcement, the month-long search for Gervasi was over, and many were relieved to know that she had been found.Emmarae had disappeared on December 9, 2024, after she entered a black car without a jacket or shoes outside her home in Patchogue, according to the New York Post. While security footage revealed she was at the Bohemia motel the next day, she continued missing. Finally, on Friday, January 3, Emmarae Gervasi was found inside a boat in Islip after Frank received an anonymous tip.
"I did find her myself before police got there. It was 26 days of hell seeing her alive in my arms," Frank Gervasi told News 12. "It was a gift from God. I can't describe the feeling I had when I grabbed her."
Just like Frank, Emmarae's mother, Melissa Dervay, was elated after finally reuniting with her daughter. "The moment I heard her voice and knew she was OK, I felt a weight lifted off my body," Dervay told Greater Long Island. "I've been so tense for the past four weeks, quietly fighting a battle. Now, I'm elated. I feel light, and I just want to scream, 'She's OK. She's been found.'"
Clarification
Following Frank's initial Facebook post, he shared a post made in the "Together Against Trafficking" Facebook group by Stephanie Rae.
"To address any misinformation: Emma was found in Islip by her father, thanks to a crucial tip. She was not there willingly, and she was overjoyed to see Frank Gervasi when reunited," Rae wrote. Rae then stated that there is an ongoing investigation and that they can't share any further details at the moment.
"We deeply appreciate the support and efforts of everyone who helped us find Emma. The love and kindness you've shown will mean so much to her once she's able to process everything."
