Sixteen-year-old Ariel Stevenson of Cole Boulevard in Middletown has been missing since the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 22.

    Ariel is described as a black female who weighs 120 pounds and is 5-foot, 5-inches tall with black hair and brown eyes. Her ears are pierced multiple times. She may go by the nickname “Air” and sometimes spells her name “Arielle.”

    Michelle Stevenson, Ariel’s mother, said Ariel was gone when she came home from work. Michelle said her other daughter, Cliché, said Ariel went to a friend’s house to return clothes.

    “We didn’t think she was missing at that time,” Michelle said. “We went out to dinner and kept calling home to see if she was there yet.”

    She said Ariel didn’t return that night, but she thought she might have spent the night at a friend’s house.

    “She’s never done that without permission, but I didn’t want to knock on someone’s door that late,” Michelle said. “This is not like her for her to do something like this.”

    On Saturday, Aug. 23, Michelle went to the friend’s house, but Ariel wasn’t there and the friend said she hadn’t talked to her.

    Michelle then reported Ariel missing to the Middletown Police.

    She said Ariel and Cliché went to Middletown High School to pick up their class schedules on Aug. 22 before Ariel disappeared.

    “She hasn’t been to school since she went missing,” Michelle said. “She talked to a friend of mine and said she was excited about going to school.”

    It is possible Ariel is in the company of Emilio Romero, who resides on Broad Street in Middletown near the area of Anderson and Crawford streets.

    “I didn’t know of him or that she knew of him, but Cliché said she had seen this man talking to Ariel before at the end of our street,” Michelle said. “I have no proof or clue that she left with him. Some people said they have seen her on the same street he lives on before she disappeared.”

    Michelle said she and Ariel had a good relationship and she doesn’t know why her daughter would leave without telling her. Ariel’s cell phone is off and Michelle has had no contact with her.

    “That is not like her for her not to call or not to come home,” Michelle said. “The longer she’s out there, the more worried I get. I don’t know if she’s hurt or if something’s wrong. I’m looking for her every day.”

    Chief Hank Tobin of the Middletown Police Department said the investigation is ongoing and they believe Ariel left home voluntarily based on the information they have received.

    “We do not suspect foul play,” he said. “We believe there is a relationship between her and Romero. We are actively pursuing all possible leads. We’ve had a couple sightings that we’re tracking down and we’re doing everything in our power to locate her.”

    If anyone has information on the whereabouts of either Ariel or Romero, call the Middletown Police at 376-9950 or (302) 573-2800.