Missing 14-year-old girl’s backpack found after screaming heard; large search underway

TROY — A large search was underway Wednesday along the Great Miami River for a missing 14-year-old girl.

Ellie Carder was last seen last Wednesday evening in the area of E. Staunton Rd. and Michigan Ave. heading toward the Great Miami River, according to Troy Police Chief Shawn McKinney.

>> PHOTOS: Large search underway for missing 14-year-old girl

As reported on News Center 7 at 5 p.m., crews were searching since at least 8:30 a.m., some in the air with a helicopter and some in the water where Carder’s backpack was found.

McKinney said Carder was leaving her friend’s home last Wednesday night and was walking by the river before she went missing.

Six days later they found her bookbag in the water.

McKinney described what was inside.

“School papers in there and some other information that verified it belonged to her,” McKinney said.

That bag is one of the main reasons why crews were there in the first place, but also because the night she was last seen a nearby factory heard something.

“They thought they heard screaming from the employee parking lot close to the river,” McKinney said.

A post downstream in Tipp City has also been set up because there’s a chance the river was moving much faster last week compared to now.

“And this is kind of complicating the search efforts is because of the recent rains on Wednesday, we believe that the river was much higher,” McKinney said.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 14-year-old girl missing; Troy police ask public to be on lookout

McKinney said tips have been sent in about several possible boyfriends of Carder’s.

“We have talked to a boyfriend and an ex-boyfriend and we have not talked to a possible future boyfriend,” McKinney said.

It is not believed that foul play was involved.

“Our leading idea now is that it may have been an accident, but nothing’s been ruled out yet,” McKinney said.

Carder’s family was waiting for updates all day.

They said they are grateful for everyone searching and trust they are doing all they can to find her.

“We’re here to do that job and we do it for anybody in the city that would come under these circumstances,” McKinney said.

News Center 7 will continue providing updates as more details become available.

If you have any information on Carder’s whereabouts contact Detective Compton at (937) 339-7525 ext. 1410.

If you know her current location, call 911 or (937) 440-9911.

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