Missing Perry teen traveled north, police say

PERRY — Authorities are searching for a teenager that went missing over the weekend, the Perry Police Department announced recently.

According to the department’s social media, Bella-Jackson Arruda, 16, from Perry was last seen in town leaving Wendy’s at North Perry Parkway, driving a gray 2013 Kia Optima with tag number SIC 7202. Police said she was reported missing Saturday night.

Arruda is described as 5-feet-8-inches tall, around 150 pounds, with long brown hair and blue eyes.

Capt. James Jones, the department’s Criminal Investigation Commander, said Arruda was identified leaving the business with another juvenile, believed to be her boyfriend, travelling north.

Police suspect her last known location to be around Chattanooga, Tennessee, as of 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27. At this time, police do not know of any connections they may have to the area.

Authorities believe Arruda is a runaway. Jones said typical runaway cases last for a few days until the runaway is low on resources, then they return home. However, Arruda’s case is unique in the distance already travelled.

“Normally it’s just somewhere around here locally, in the Warner Robins area, to where they could go to a friend’s house or another family member’s house and kind of hide out for a couple days,” Jones said.

Jones is hopeful the pair will be found safe, thanks to technology that can track their vehicle.

“Hopefully sooner than than later, we’ll know that they’ve been picked up, and they’re nice and safe. We can get them back home to their parents,” Jones said.

Anyone with more information is encouraged to call Det. Talley at (478) 988-2800 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers: 1-877-68CRIME.