Path of Missing Girl, 12, Traced

Gardena police were pursuing leads Tuesday in the search for a 12-year-old girl who vanished after leaving for school Friday morning.

Investigators said they got an important break in the case Monday when search dogs traced Erica Seeney’s path to a hotel on Western Avenue. Detectives reviewed the hotel’s surveillance tapes and said the girl entered one of the rooms about 8:15 a.m. Friday with three other people.

Nothing on the surveillance footage suggested she had been abducted, said Lt. Charles Balo.

Balo said detectives were attempting Tuesday to identify the trio on the surveillance tape. He declined to describe them or to name the hotel.

The girl left her home in the 15800 block of Western Avenue for Robert Peary Middle School about 7:15 a.m. Friday, but she never arrived. Her parents, Robin and DeAndre Seeney, filed a missing person report Friday evening, telling officers their daughter had probably gone to stay with friends or a boyfriend without their permission.

Police described the missing girl as African American, 5 feet 6, 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a white shirt, blue jeans and white shoes.

Detectives asked anyone with possible information to call them at (310) 217-9670.