BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo Police and New York State are asking for help finding two young girls.
Ariyah Brown, 12, and Nova Rayne Lilley, 7, were last seen traveling eastbound on foot from Main Street and Utica Street between 6:30 and 6:45 p.m.
Brown, who is 5 feet tall and 120 pounds with black hair and brown eyes, was last seen wearing a black jacket and black jeans with black Adidas sneakers. Lilley, approximately 4’4″ and 78 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes, was last seen wearing a white shirt under a pink jacket and blue jeans.
In a press conference on Tuesday morning, police said that the girls were living at Child & Family Services on Delaware Avenue. A 911 call from the facility came in from the facility around 7:15 p.m. Monday. Surveillance video captured the girls walking eastbound from Main Street and Utica Street earlier in the evening, with one of the girls carrying a backpack.
One of the girls has “exhibited runaway behavior” in the past, BPD Chief of Detectives Craig Macy said, but they do not believe it was planned. The girls are not believed to have a relationship prior to their placement at the facility.
An Amber Alert has not been issued, because local police do not have information that they are with an unknown third party. An Amber Alert would have to come from state police.
“You’re talking about a 7-year-old and a 12-year-old,” Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon said. “I think we can all draw a conclusion on what the concerns are.”
Tuesday’s frigid temperatures have also increased the urgency on locating the girls.
“You’re talking about a 7-year-old and a 12-year-old unsupervised roaming the streets of Buffalo in January when we’ve had a cold front that’s moved in this week,” Scanlon said. “It’s dangerous for adults to be out there too long, let alone a 7-year-old and a 12-year-old.”
Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call 911.
You can watch the full update from Buffalo city officials in the media player above.