By Sydney Severo
Staff Writer
Missing Mira Costa student Emily Espinosa sent a letter to her family members over the weekend to notify them that she is alive and well but does not want to return; in the letter, she indicated that she does not plan on returning home.
Espinosa’s correspondence is the first communication that she has had with her family since July 22, when she was last seen at MBX summer school. The letter’s return address, which could have possibly indicated her current location, was the Espinosa family home. According to Espinosa’s mother Krista Valdez, the letter was written in Espinosa’s handwriting and it contained information that only Emily would know. The Redondo Beach Police Department will not release the details of the letter.
“When I first received the letter from Emily, I was relieved,” Valdez said. “But I would’ve liked to hear her voice. She says that she’s okay and doesn’t want to come home. But [the letter] felt cold. Just because she sent a letter, that doesn’t mean she’s okay. Still nobody has seen or heard from her.”
According to RBPD Sgt. Shawn Freeman, Emily appears to be trying to make it on her own with no support from family or friends. Nonetheless, the Redondo Beach Police Department plans to continually check in with her family, seeing as Espinosa will now be considered a voluntary missing minor.
“The outpouring of support and concern from the community motivates the RBPD to bring her home safely.” Freeman said. “Emily is 16, she has not finished high school. She is not an adult, nor are we aware that she is trying to emancipate herself as an adult.”
If anyone has any knowledge about her possible whereabouts, please inform the RBPD at (310) 379-2477.
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