FOX RIVER GROVE, IL — A Fox River Grove mother is pleading for help finding her 24-year-old daughter, who disappeared after traveling to Chicago with her boyfriend in late September, prompting a missing-person investigation and growing concern among family members.
Alyssa Smith, whose mother, Rebecca Smith, lives in Fox River Grove, has not been heard from by her family since Sept. 27. Rebecca reported her daughter missing to Palatine police on Sept. 30, according to media reports.
Smith traveled to Chicago with her boyfriend, who returned home without her Oct. 1, Shaw Local is reporting. The circumstances surrounding their separation remain unclear.
Rebecca Smith told Fox News Digital that her daughter's disappearance has been devastating for the family.
"We're going through hell," she said. "Want her home. We miss her. Her sisters are waiting for her to come home."
The mother has been sharing missing-person flyers on social media and asking the public to help locate her daughter.
Palatine police said investigators are following up on reports that Alyssa may have been spotted Saturday, Oct. 3, in the Grant Park area and near Cicero Avenue and Roosevelt Road in Chicago.
Authorities have not confirmed whether those sightings were Smith.
"Since receiving the missing-person report, Palatine Police detectives have been actively investigating Smith's whereabouts and following up on information received regarding possible sightings," police said in a statement reported by Fox News.
The investigation has also drawn attention to the circumstances surrounding Smith's disappearance.
Rebecca Smith told Fox News Digital that Smith's boyfriend has changed his account of events more than once, leaving her confused about what happened. However, authorities have not accused Caso of wrongdoing or identified him as a suspect.
Caso's mother told Fox News Digital that he had returned to Chicago three times to search for Alyssa. He has also shared missing-person flyers and appealed for her return on social media.
Police described Alyssa Smith as approximately 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighing 135 to 140 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She has several tattoos, including a distinctive Pennywise clown tattoo on her left shoulder, along with nose, septum and eyebrow piercings.
Smith was believed to be wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, light khaki-colored pants or sweatpants and white Adidas sneakers when she disappeared.
Anyone with information about Alyssa Smith's whereabouts is asked to contact the Palatine Police Department at 847-359-9000 or call 911 if they believe they have located her.
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