A Florida teen mother and her infant daughter have been reported missing and endangered, prompting an urgent police search.
Wilbelys Lopez Candelario, 17, was last seen Tuesday with her six-month-old daughter, Marbelys Lopez, in Fort Myers, according to authorities. The pair’s disappearance has triggered a law enforcement appeal for public assistance in locating them.
Candelario was last seen wearing a black blouse and gray pants, police said. The specific location within Fort Myers where she was spotted has not been disclosed.
Authorities have classified both mother and child as “missing and endangered,” though they have not specified what factors led to that designation. The circumstances surrounding their disappearance remain under investigation.
It remains unclear where the pair may have headed or what prompted them to leave. Police have not indicated whether they believe the disappearance was voluntary or if foul play is suspected.
The Fort Myers Police Department is leading the search operation. Investigators have not released additional details about potential witnesses or surveillance footage that might aid in the investigation.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Wilbelys Lopez Candelario or Marbelys Lopez is urged to contact Fort Myers police directly at 239-321-7700. Authorities emphasized that even seemingly minor details could prove crucial in locating the missing mother and child.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about missing minors and their dependents in Florida. Law enforcement agencies in the state routinely issue endangered missing alerts when young children are involved, given the heightened vulnerability of infants.
Police have not announced any planned press conferences or additional public appeals at this time. The investigation remains active as authorities continue to follow leads in the search for the missing Fort Myers pair.