15-year-old Chestnuthill Twp. runaway still missing, Police believe people may be hiding or assisting her in evading police.

By Howard Frank
Pocono Record Writer Follow @@PoconoHFrank

Police are again reaching out to the public for help in locating a 15-year-old runaway girl.

Amber Bross, of Chestnuthill Township, has been missing since Dec. 1 and police said individuals questioned about her whereabouts might be hiding her or know where she is. Police believe she may be staying somewhere with friends in the Effort, Saylorsburg or Blakeslee areas.

“We have been receiving information from individuals that have no reason to fabricate she is staying with ‘friends’ in the area,” Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Don Mac Rae of the Fern Ridge barracks said. "Unfortunately, they are not sure of who or where exactly."

Mac Rae believes that individuals state police have interviewed may have been allowing Bross to stay with them, knowing she is a runaway. Those who do could be running afoul of the law.

”Many people know of her status at this point and if it is discovered persons we have had contact with regarding Amber being a runaway had subsequently assisted her, arrests will be made,” Mac Rae said. “At that point, hampering an investigation, and quite possibly concealing the whereabouts of a minor may apply. You simply can't allow a minor who is wanted as a runaway to stay with you when you know the situation.”

Police have received tips that turned out to be wrong or old. Mac Rae said it's possible certain people are not being truthful and are assisting Bross in evading police.

Bross doesn’t have a cellular “ping,” which is hampering the investigation.

Most runaways are found relatively quickly, Mac Rae said, and Bross’ situation is rare.

Bross doesn’t live with her parents, Mac Rae said. “She was actually set to be placed in foster care, which is one of the reasons that prompted her run to begin with. She has had indirect contact with her aunt so we know she is safe, and she most definitely has been receiving help from people who know what is going on.”

Bross is described as a white female, 5 feet tall, weighing about 120 pounds, with red hair and a fair complexion.

Mac Rae hopes that anyone helping her will read about her situation and do the "right thing," he said.

Anyone with information about Bross’ whereabouts is asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police at Fern Ridge at 570-646-2271.