Investigators, family of missing teen seek community's help

CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich. — Friday marks one week since 17-year-old Penelope “Penny” Wise walked away from her home near Morley Park in Cedar Springs.

“We want her to know that we love her and we care for her,” said her mother Mishael Wise. “Our number one priority is to know that she is safe. We have to make sure that she contacts someone.”

Penelope disappeared on Friday May 31.

The Kent County Sheriff's Office released security video from Rockford Park Drive on Friday, June 7, showing Penny walking near the White Pine Trail wearing a pink tank top and shorts. The video is from the same evening she left the house.

“I was happy to see the video, but at the same time it hit reality even more,” Mishael said. “When you see something, it further reinforces that we are really experiencing this, and it's not fair, you know…”

“…a bad dream,” said Penny's father, David Wise.

Investigators are currently searching the area between Rockford and Cedar Springs.

“We sent out our mounted unit, our trail patrol, our drone unit, as well as our detectives and our uniformed patrols, monitoring the areas daily where she was last seen,” said Deputy Bryan Muir. Kent County Sheriff.

The Kent County Sheriff's Office currently does not suspect foul play and said she left of her own accord.

The photo below was provided by KCSO and shows what Penny was wearing the day she left home.

Penny's family and KCSO are concerned about her well-being, saying she has certain needs that her family must ensure she receives care for.

Her parents said they were grateful for the widespread support from the community and urged people to continue to keep an eye on their daughter, who they described as “bubbly” and “outgoing.”

“It gives us comfort to know that there is such a community, especially here in Cedar Springs, that is just thriving, and they are concerned, and they want her to come home too,” Mishael said.

“We used everything we could in terms of resources at the sheriff's office,” Undersheriff Muir said. “The community is bigger than us and we want to make sure they are aware of the situation. Report any tips to us as soon as possible.”

KCSO has launched a tip line that can be found here, where anyone with tips, photos or videos can share them with the Sheriff's Office.

People can also call the KCSO Investigative Division at (616) 632-6125.

“If you have a tip, big or small, send it to us. We appreciate everything,” David said.

Penny weighs about 120 pounds and has blonde hair and braces.

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