WILLIMANTIC, Conn. (AP) — The mother and father of a missing Eastern Connecticut State University student made a tearful plea to the public Thursday for any information that might help find her.
Corrinna Martin and Christopher Wiley joined state police and a state prosecutor at a news conference at the Willimantic school. Their daughter, 20-year-old West Haven native Alyssiah Wiley, was last seen April 20 near the Dairy Queen on Main Street en route to campus, police said.
“I am asking, I am pleading with the public as a mother who wants her child home,” Martin said. “She has her family who wants her home. She has friends who want her home. We need your help.”
Christopher Wiley added, “Please, please, help us.”
Alyssiah Wiley is a sophomore psychology major at Eastern who was preparing to go to medical school, her mother said.
“This is not a young lady who would walk away from such a life,” Martin said. “This is not a young lady who would put her family through this much grief. This is, however, a young lady who is full of life, full of energy and full of the hope that her future is bright. … We’re just asking, please, please, please find it in your heart to open up your mouth and speak.”
Alyssiah is described as a black woman who is 5-feet-6-inches tall and about 150 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
Campus and state police have searched the area and other parts of the state. Troopers have used search dogs and aircraft and interviewed numerous people who know Alyssiah. Police also found a black Nissan Altima last week near the Bridgeport-Fairfield line that they said was connected to the case, but officials wouldn’t say how it was related.
Authorities said they’ve developed many leads but need more information.
“Any bit of information that anyone can share with us, even if you think it’s insignificant, might be helpful to us in our investigation,” Windham State’s Attorney Patricia Froehlich said.
