Golden Gate Estates family desperate for answers after teen goes missing

GOLDEN GATE ESTATES, Fla. (WINK)— The Collier County Sheriff's Office is searching for a missing 16-year-old girl who left her home on foot early Friday morning.

Deputies say Sophia Veronica Cover was last seen leaving her home in Golden Gate Estates at about 12:45 a.m. on July 31. Deputies said she is 5 feet 7 inches tall and approximately 115 pounds with long brown hair and brown eyes. A clothing description was unavailable.

Her father said Sophia has never run away before. The family moved to the area in February from the Philadelphia area. Her father said she didn't have a large circle of friends yet, still being relatively new to Southwest Florida.

Sophia had been grounded about a month ago and had her devices taken away. Her father said he made a clone of her phone to monitor communications, but there has been no activity. He contacted her friends back in Philadelphia, but no one has seen or heard from her.

The family lives in a remote area of Golden Gate Estates, and her father fears someone may have picked her up after she left on foot.

Anyone with information on Sophia's whereabouts is asked to contact the Collier County Sheriff's Office at 239-252-9300.