Anthony Baker’s world was shattered when his 16-year-old daughter, Avery Baker, disappeared from their home in Northwest Harris County, Texas. On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, The Mirror reported on the heart-wrenching ordeal that has left a father in a state of fear and panic as he desperately searches for his missing daughter.
The nightmare began when Avery was last seen at home, leaving no trace of where she might have gone. Initially, Anthony reacted with anger, assuming his daughter had run away in a moment of teenage rebellion. But as the hours turned into days, his anger quickly morphed into an overwhelming sense of dread. The chilling thought that his daughter might be alone in New York City, nearly 1,600 miles away, with a stranger she met online, became his terrifying reality.
“I was angry at first, but it turned into fear and panic pretty quickly,” Baker confessed, as the gravity of the situation began to sink in. His worst fears were confirmed when family and friends uncovered a screenshot of a Delta Airlines ticket, purchased in Avery’s name, for a flight from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport to New York’s LaGuardia Airport on the very day she vanished.
Desperate for answers, Anthony contacted Delta Airlines, who confirmed his worst nightmare: Avery had boarded the flight and was now in New York City. The realization that his teenage daughter had traveled across the country without any restrictions or adult supervision left him in shock. “I just found out that it’s a thing, that between 15 and 18 you don’t really need an ID or a parent or a consent or something like that, it kind of blows my mind,” Baker said, grappling with the troubling reality.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are no federal laws preventing minors from purchasing a plane ticket and flying alone. This loophole allowed Avery to embark on a journey that has left her father frantic with worry. Adding to the anxiety, Anthony received photos of a man believed to be with Avery in New York, but he has no information about the man’s identity or whereabouts.
In a desperate bid to find his daughter, Anthony has reached out to the New York Police Department (NYPD) and authorities in Harris County, who are now working together to locate Avery. A missing persons report has been filed with the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable’s office, leading the investigation.
Anthony Baker has made a heartfelt plea to the public, asking anyone with information about Avery’s whereabouts to come forward. Authorities have also urged the public to remain vigilant, and anyone with details is encouraged to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Missing Persons Unit or Crime Stoppers.
As the search for Avery continues, her father’s fear and desperation grow with each passing day, hoping for a safe return of his daughter.