URGENT UPDATE: A desperate search is underway for 10-year-old Gabrielle Terrelonge, who has been missing since June 30, 2023. Her mother, Passha Davis, is now in custody as authorities investigate the troubling circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
Gabrielle was last seen on a Greyhound bus traveling from Broward County to Orlando with Davis, following which the family lost contact. Gordon Terrelonge, Gabrielle’s father, has not heard from her in over six months. He discovered Davis’s arrest in Margate, Florida, on October 17, and immediately contacted police, only to learn that his daughter was missing.
“My life has been hell,” Terrelonge told reporters. “This is the longest I’ve gone without seeing her.”
Authorities report that Davis was taken into custody after being accused of shoplifting, but she was not with Gabrielle at the time. Margate police and the FBI are leading the investigation, urging anyone with information to come forward.
The investigation reveals that Gabrielle was last seen with her mother at the Florida Mall, corroborated by witness accounts and bus records, according to police Major Al Banatte. Davis has since been re-arrested, facing charges of child neglect and failing to provide information on Gabrielle’s whereabouts.
During a court hearing, Davis claimed she does not know where her daughter is and asserted that Gabrielle “should be with her father.” However, police believe that Gabrielle was left with Davis in Kissimmee, Florida, in April, after which her father lost contact with both of them.
Gabrielle’s disappearance has devastated her family. Her paternal grandmother, Jonett Vassel, expressed her anguish, stating, “I cannot sleep, I cannot eat. I’m fasting, I’m praying. I’m still trusting God.” As part of their search effort, Vassel has been distributing flyers featuring Gabrielle’s photo throughout Orlando.
Details surrounding Davis’s personal circumstances paint a troubling picture. Police reports indicate a history of homelessness, mental illness, and substance abuse issues, raising concerns about Gabrielle’s safety while in her mother’s care.
Davis’s most recent arrest on November 4 came after police charged her with child neglect, accusing her of failing to ensure Gabrielle’s physical and mental well-being. The judge has set her bond at $100,000, and she is to undergo a mental competency evaluation by November 26.
Gabrielle was last enrolled in school in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and authorities are investigating why the Florida Department of Children and Families intervened in her living situation previously but did not remove her from Davis’s custody.
Gordon Terrelonge describes Gabrielle as a vibrant child who loves nature and enjoys arts and crafts. He emphasized that Davis and Gabrielle shared a close bond, often reuniting despite previous separations. “If anyone knows anything, please come forward and let us know,” he pleaded. “You may save my child’s life.”
The search for Gabrielle Terrelonge continues, with police and the FBI actively seeking the public’s assistance. The urgency of this case resonates deeply with her family and the community as they hope for her safe return.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Margate police immediately.