The unsettling pattern of missing youths continues to stir communities as Eli Rabadi, a 16-year-old from north Phoenix, remains missing after a harrowing three weeks. By contrast, a glimmer of hope shone through in South Auckland as a missing 13-year-old girl was found safe following a similar three-week disappearance. The resolution of the latter case brings cautious optimism to the ongoing search for Eli.
A distress call was made by Eli Rabadi’s family, as reported by ABC15, imploring the public to aid in locating their son, who vanished on November 22. Private investigator Chris Castorena described Eli as “very quiet” and “very loving”, noting the teen’s affection for his family. “Family is just very distraught,” Castorena elucidated in a statement directly obtained by ABC15. The teen was last seen near 3rd and Northern avenues, and his absence has not only left a void in his family but also within the hallways of Sunnyslope High School, where he is currently enrolled.
While the Phoenix police persist in unraveling Eli’s disappearance, stating no immediate danger is apparent, the missing individual database NamUS paints a grim picture; over 1,000 current active cases with Arizona ranking among the top five states for missing persons. Eli’s friends have seemingly vanished into their own silence, as Castorena verified they’ve heard nothing from him since his disappearance…