The Collier County Sheriff's Office is investigating the disappearance of 16-year-old Sophia Cover, who was last seen leaving her home in Golden Gate Estates, Florida, around 12:45 a.m. on July 31. Her father, Richard Cover, discovered she was missing after hearing their dogs whimper and finding her bedroom empty.
"There is no way that she’s going and leaving, putting me through this for five days. There’s no way. I don’t care what the reason is," Richard Cover told Gulf Coast News Now, expressing his disbelief that his daughter would voluntarily leave. He described Sophia as his "buddy" and spoke of an overwhelming sense of helplessness since she vanished.
The family recently moved to the Golden Gate Estates community four months prior to Sophia's disappearance. Surveillance footage captured Sophia walking out of her home in the early morning hours. Authorities have stated that a multi-agency investigation is underway, but no leads have emerged thus far.
Sophia Cover is described as being 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 115 pounds, with brown eyes and long brown hair. The Collier County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information regarding her whereabouts to contact them at 239-252-9300. Richard Cover has also initiated a search effort both online and within the community, urging Sophia to come home if she is in trouble or to seek help from any trusted adult or police officer.