Community Rallies To Help Find Missing Avon Teen

AVON, CT — Friends of a missing 17-year-old Avon resident are raising money to hire a private investigator to help find them.

A Silver Alert was issued for Ronan Hernsdorf-Smith on Monday, Aug. 30 and friends are concerned they may have been trafficked.

Carrie Firestone created a GoFundMePage, called Let’s Bring Ronan Home, on Friday to help raise funds to hire a private investigator.

Friends believe Hernsdorf-Smith was lured to Enfield, then “possibly trafficked south to Virginia, but they could be traveling,” according to the GoFundMe page.

“Ronan is very vulnerable and we are gravely concerned for their safety,” reads the post on GoFundMe. “The police are doing a fantastic job trying to bring Ronan home, but we want to do everything we can to help. We're raising money to pay for a private investigator who has experience finding trafficked kids. This is every parent's worst nightmare and we're so grateful the community is coming together to help find Ronan.

“In the event Ronan is found and brought home safely, we will use the remaining funds collected to find other trafficked children.”

Hernsdorf-Smith is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs 280 pounds. They were last seen with green hair and wearing a black shirt, black ripped jeans and black platform boots.

If located, or if anyone has information on Hernsdorf-Smith's whereabouts, contact the Avon Police Department at 860-409-4200.

The GoFundMe page has raised nearly $4,000 within the first four hours of the campaign, as of Friday afternoon.

For more information, visit the GoFundMe page here.

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