UPDATE: Searchers Scouring San Francisco Bay for Missing Teen's Body
'It's a terrible tragedy. I think this community went from being hopeful to having our worst fears realized.'
Get live updates about the search on Twitter.
Today officials with the California Highway Patrol announced that the search for missing Danville teen Alliy Bayliss has switched to a water recovery operation in the area near the Golden Gate Bridge, ending the ground search that began early Tuesday morning.
California Highway Patrol Captain Amy Mangan addressed the media with this statement:
"We have information that came to us in our search and rescue efforts yesterday as well as our investigative efforts that indicates Allison walked onto the Golden Gate Bridge shortly after 10 a.m., on Monday morning. It does not appear Allison walked off the Golden Gate Bridge. Our investigative efforts now switch to one of a possible suicide. The Danville Police Department is currently with Allison's family as well as staff from the Town of Danville to provide them council and support. The efforts of California Highway Patrol, U.S. Parks Police, National Parks Service, U.S. Coast Guard and the Golden Gate Bridge District will continue in our attempt to locate Allison."
Mangan went on to say they were not in the possesion of a suicide note and "unfortunately sometimes there is no recovery in these types of situations."
Danville Police Chief Steve Simpkins said he received the news early Wednesday morning.
“This is a very sad outcome,” he said. “Our hearts go out to the Bayliss family at this time, and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts.”
School district spokesman Terry Koehne gave this statement about Bayliss, a member of the junior varsity swim team and a "very good student academically."
"It's a terrible tragedy," he said. "I think this community went from being hopeful to having our worst fears realized."
The Bayliss family has extended their deepest gratitude and thanks to law enforcement, family, friends and the many volunteers who put in so much effort on behalf of their daughter.
A candlelight vigil is scheduled for Wednesday evening from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Danville Congregational Church, 989 San Ramon Valley Blvd.
10:00 a.m. Alliy's bike, which was found locked up Tuesday at a parking lot near the Golden Gate Bridge, is now gone. Simpkins says no new information is available yet.
8 a.m.: The search for a missing Danville girl who could be suicidal has resumed, according to Howard Levitt, director of communications for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Levitt told KTVU news this morning that the search, taking place on both sides of the Golden Gate Bridge, will cover similar ground as Tuesday's efforts, including in the water. He said dozens of searchers are on the ground.
The widespread effort to find 15-year-old Allison Bayliss began about 5 a.m. Tuesday after her bike was found in San Francisco. It has drawn dozens of law enforcement agencies and volunteers and a blast of media attention.
Levitt said Tuesday night the search for Bayliss, last seen Monday morning at San Ramon Valley High School, was called off at 9 p.m. when darkness fell.
He said the best thing for concerned community members to do is to "continue to get the word out to the broader community," rather than helping with a physical search.
A Find Alliy Bayliss Facebook page that was created Monday night and attracted more than 11,000 followers was no longer live as of Wednesday morning, reportedly because of negative comments. A new page can be found here. The social networking site has been a key communication tool in the efforts to find her, with family and friends posting updates by the minute and strangers offering their prayers and support.
Kevin Sawcheck, a friend of the family, said a search of Alliy's computer found directions to the Dublin BART station, as well as directions from the Embarcadero to the Golden Gate Bridge using Google Maps bicycle directions. This path led the search team to her bicycle, found locked at a bike rack in a parking lot at Fort Point near the Golden Gate Bridge.
The area is blocked off by yellow police tape, though this case is not believed to be criminal, and her helmet sits on the ground next to her bike.
"Everyone is just focused on finding Alliy," said Sawcheck. "We are obviously very worried. Alliy, please come back. We all love you and want you to come back home."
Sawcheck said plans are for the search to continue as long as necessary.
A picture of Alliy, a girl most of the Bay Area never knew before Tuesday, is emerging. Clearly athletic, her swimmer's tan visible underneath her electric blue homecoming dress, Alliy has a wide smile, first in braces and then without — a family friend pointed out she got them off earlier this month.
Alliy, who has three younger siblings, attended elementary school in Danville and is a sophomore at San Ramon Valley High School.
A multi-denominational vigil is planned for her and her family, 7-8 p.m. Wednesday at Danville Congregational Church, 989 San Ramon Valley Blvd. According to the Facebook post: "All are welcome. We will be handing out candles, fliers, etc."
Allison was last seen wearing a red zip hoodie jacket, jeans and mismatching flip-flops, one green and one yellow. Allison is 5-foot-8, has blue eyes and blonde hair and weighs 130 pounds (see photo). She had a black and purple Diamondback mountain bike with her.
Anyone with information is asked to call 9-1-1 immediately or 925-646-2441.
We will update this story when more information is available.
Kim
11:38 am on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
As a Danville mother of two, this breaks my heart. Allison, your family and community want you back. We are all praying for your safe return.
Nicholas Terry
12:28 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
While this is VERY sad...I am a little upset that they have assumed she took her life...until anything is discovered, I would think law enforcement would have common courtesy to not say such comments that allude to the young girl taking her life, unless they know more then they are saying. It really gives people a deeper sense of unhappiness.
Wes
9:41 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
It is terribly sad and I pray for the family and friends but She wrote a suicide note according to the reports. Something like that would give people the idea that she possibly jumped.
My Opinion
12:55 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Your right Nicholas they should keep the community in the dark and lie to them, to make the community smile. Seriously are you all there?
Angelz
1:08 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Lord, please forgive her sins and clear her head and if she has committed suicide, please allow her in heaven she is an Angel. you know what is/was in her heart. Amen
Margie Giusti
1:13 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
We continue to pray for Allison and her family! Please Lord, help them to lean on you at this incredibly diffucult time!
Vicki
1:44 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
As a Mother, I can only imagine what her parents are going through right now. My Prayers go out to them and their family. I 'm holding out hope that maybe Ally just needed to get away and have some time to think, as teenagers sometimes do.
Stephanie Fennell
1:52 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Alliy, Rest In Peace. You are deeply loved. We will miss you forever.
Marilhyn
2:19 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
My heart goes out to Alliy's family, and I am praying that she is found safe and sound. I am a mother of a Bi-Polar child who has lived for years with the fear of my child succeeding in numerous suicide attempts. I will pray for Alliy and her family until the truth is known. May God Bless you all and keep you strong.
Stephanie Morabe
2:32 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
I remember hearing about this first through a running organization feed. So sad and I hope that the family members are coping ok. Is there a way to donate to the family by way of food, etc?
Nicholas Terry
3:15 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Cory...did you read my post? I questioned why they would assume something just because they can't find her...not that they are hiding anything...if they are not saying something so that the parents hear about it from them first, and not from a web site, fine. But to assume she committed suicide with no proof...I question that. Are you here? Join us. This is, above our conversation, a very sad story.
My Opinion
4:28 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Yes I did sorry to have jumped the gun. This is a very tragic and sad story. I hope they find her dead or alive to at least put this whole situation to rest. Hoping alive but at this point from what I am hearing does not sound good. I have a daughter so I could not imagine this happening to my family. My heart goes out to all her family and friends.
Kyle Bonagura
7:22 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Nicholas, I see what you are getting at, however, the CHP, Danville Police Department and other agencies which have been involved in the search are doing so with help from the family. Based on what they've gathered from both the family and other evidence it is clear what has happened here. I should remind you that Alliy went missing on Monday, all day yesterday was spent searching for her and not until today did the CHP introduce attempted suicide officially. There was no rush to call this a suicide. From the circumstantial evidence we all had yesterday, it's fair to assume a lot of people were thinking it was potentially a suicide attempt before being called that by the CHP/DPD. All of their focus now is on searching the water. It's clear Alliy jumped, however the search will continue.
KJ
4:40 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Why, oh why would people post negative comments on the original facebook page? I saw some of these and they appeared to be posted by immature teens making a joke of her troubles and her disappearance. I hope the parents of those kids who posted that crap are told, and if they were involved in harassing her to death, I hope they are held accountable.
greg cross
10:03 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The one local classmate posting a negative (or at best random) comment on the Facebook page from what I saw was a confused high schooler who didn't seem yet to understand the gravity of the situation or the idea of a permanent and irreversible tragedy such as this.
Others, who were obviously not classmates (and not likely from the local area or were hiding behind a profile) seemed to spend their lives using Facebook to get attention by carnival barking their ignorance. Pretty sad statement, I agree.
jjobes
5:23 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
I am afraid there are cameras, etc. at all pedestrian/bike entrances to the bridge, so very likely the authorities watched these videos over and over and saw her walk onto the bridge but never saw her walk off the bridge at any of the exit points.
Jonathan Hawthorne
7:34 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Generally, it's a red flag when a teenager is walking on the Golden Gate bridge during the middle of the school day. Where are the bystanders? Wasn't there someone who could have offered some last minute help on Monday morning?
greg cross
9:54 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
It is really a shame and sad that it has to be so sudden and surreal. I feel for her parents in the biggest way possible.
Wishing something could undo this.
Zinn
9:59 am on Thursday, May 26, 2011
Very sad story. It has been verified she walked on to the GG Bridge but was not seen coming off. You wonder what was tormenting her?
Stephanie Carmassi
4:43 pm on Thursday, May 26, 2011
I would love to help the Bayliss family in any way I can
Meg
7:34 pm on Thursday, May 26, 2011
Or...maybe it was an accident? The report states they had info she was seen walking onto the bridge, but not seen walking off. Perhaps she fell? Maybe she was goofing around, had her IPOD on, listening to music, maybe dancing a little to the beat and slipped and fell off?
naike
8:20 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
the police does not say anything that harsh, like she is dead,unless they are sure of it. they must have survailance videos from the bridge.sad
JOY
7:12 pm on Monday, May 30, 2011
I still hope they find her. Only God knows. Cameras can only catch so much. Right now people should realize that they should go to God when troubles overwhelm them. He can help! If you call on HIM.
I pray for the family, the service was beautiful. But I still hope and pray for a miracle.
Deborah
3:30 pm on Tuesday, May 31, 2011
We must remember, Allison was a excellent swimmer. Allison might have jumped, but survived and swim away. People have jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge and survived. There is hope, that is all we have, hope throught Jesus Christ.
Rana
9:55 am on Wednesday, June 1, 2011
The only thing we can do now is just pray for her to come back and be alive, God please stay with her family, especially the mom, hope she'll be back soon...