$10,000 reward offered for search for missing 12-year-old Gainesville girl

A $10,000 reward is being offered by an anonymous donor for information leading to the safe return of 12-year-old Maria Gomez-Perez. On Thursday, authorities released an updated photo of the girl who had been missing for more than a week.

Another anonymous donor gave $2,000 to help with signage and distribution of flyers and information to alert the public to be on the lookout for Maria.

As previously reported, Maria was last seen at her home on Westside Drive near Pearl Nix Parkway around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29. According to Hall County Sheriff's Investigator Brad Parks, she was reported to authorities as missing on Thursday, May 30.

The Hall County Sheriff's Office is leading the search for the girl with a team of local, state and federal investigators.

“At this time, we have a team of more than two dozen investigators dedicated to Maria’s safe return to her family,” the sheriff’s office said.

Several of these investigators met with members of the community Wednesday evening. The meeting was held at the request of Hall County Business Leader Norma Hernandez. At the June 5 meeting, Major Parks sought to assure the community that the Sheriff's Office has been actively working on the case since the day Maria was reported missing.

“What I would like the community to know is that as soon as the patrol officers arrived on scene, they contacted the investigative agency and we also went to the scene,” Parks said before a packed audience in Hernandez's office.

Respond to reviews. Lead tracking

The sheriff's office was criticized for not issuing a call from Levi's at the time of Maria's disappearance. In defense, the agency issued a lengthy statement explaining that the case did not follow GBI protocol for issuing a statewide missing child alert.

“Many have accused the Hall County Sheriff's Office of doing minimal work in trying to find Maria. On the contrary, we have a team of investigators who have worked and continue to work diligently on this case,” the statement said. “Our goal is to bring Maria home and ensure her safety. We know the community wants it too.

Statewide media alerts publicized Maria's case. The sheriff's office says detectives followed several unsuccessful leads.

“We continue to receive a number of leads, and those processes are currently underway for investigation,” Parks said.

In an effort to avoid further criticism regarding the lack of transparency, Parks explained, “I will not give many details regarding the investigation. I'm not secretive; I want you to understand that the investigation has taken many forms and that we are doing many things that we cannot discuss. This is not about withholding information from you, but about ensuring the integrity of the investigation. He then urged the community: “If you have a tip or lead, I would desperately ask you to pass it on to the sheriff's office. »

What you can do

Statewide media alerts raised awareness of Maria's disappearance and kept the case in the forefront. Investigators are asking the public to continue to be on the lookout for the 12-year-old.

Maria Gomez-Perez is 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs between 100 and 110 pounds. She has brown eyes and long black hair.

Authorities say Maria was wearing a bright blue shirt at the time of her disappearance. No other clothing descriptions are available.

If you know where Maria is or have any information that could help you find her, contact law enforcement by calling 911 or 770-536-8812.

Anonymous tips can be directed to the Hall County Sheriff's Special Investigations Unit by calling 770-503-3232. Tips can also be emailed to [email protected].

Parks says he plans to hold regular meetings with the community on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. to provide an update on the case. The Sheriff's Office will notify the community of these meeting locations via social media.

For updates, visit the Hall County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.