Golden Gate Estates family searches for missing 16-year-old girl

Sophia Cover, a 16-year-old girl, has been missing since she left her home on 62nd Avenue Northeast in Golden Gate Estates in the middle of the night on July 31, leaving her family desperate for answers. "There is no way that she's going and leaving, putting me through this for five days. There's no way. I don't care what the reason is," said her father, Richard Cover. Cover described feeling helpless as the search for his daughter enters its sixth day. "She's she's my buddy. I thought I wasn't going to cry, man," he said. Surveillance footage shows Sophia walking out of her home late at night. Her father recounted the moment he realized she was gone. "That day, she wasn't, it was locked. So the dogs whine. And so, I walk around, go through the pool bathroom door, and that's unlocked. And then I walk into her bedroom and she's nowhere to be found," he said. The family, who moved to the area just four months ago, said they do not believe Sophia is capable of running away. Richard Cover has launched a search both online and, in the community, hoping to find clues about her whereabouts. "Everybody is looking for you. And, if you're out there on your own, it's really easy to come home. You can go to any police officer. You can go to any adult that is safe," Cover said in a message to his daughter. Collier County deputies have confirmed that the case is now a multi-agency investigation. Sophia is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs 115 pounds, and has long brown hair and brown eyes. Investigators say there are currently no leads on her whereabouts and are urging anyone with information to come forward. Deputies emphasized that any details regarding her disappearance are essential to bringing her home. Contact CCSO at 239-252-9300 if you have any information on Sophia Cover. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.