Skylee Merino {CSPD}
The Coral Springs Police Department has outlined a detailed timeline in the disappearance of Skylee Merino, revealing the 15-year-old traveled across multiple South Florida cities and into Central Florida after she was first reported missing.
In an updated statement released Tuesday, investigators emphasized that while Merino’s behavior has raised concerns for her safety, there is currently no indication she has been the victim of a crime.
Authorities said Merino has been active since her disappearance, including accessing social media accounts after April 21. Detectives also confirmed she deliberately attempted to avoid being located, telling friends she planned to stop using social media.
According to police, Merino attended a party in Fort Lauderdale on April 25 before staying overnight with a friend in Boca Raton. The following day, April 26, she went paddleboarding in the Lake Boca area during the large “Boca Bash” gathering.
Investigators said that later that same day, after realizing law enforcement was searching for her, Merino left the residence where she had been staying.
She was subsequently seen at a Starbucks on North Military Trail in Boca Raton, where she met with an adult male and left with him, police said.
Detectives later identified and interviewed the 19-year-old man on May 1. According to police, Merino stayed with him in Delray Beach for approximately two days.
On April 28, the pair traveled to Orlando. Investigators said Merino asked to be dropped off at a hotel on International Drive, where she stayed with another adult male who has not yet been identified.
Police also revealed that Merino has been presenting herself as 18 years old and using the alias “Valery.”
The department said its investigation has expanded significantly, with assistance from multiple agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Broward Sheriff’s Office, and several local police departments across South Florida and Central Florida.
Police also cautioned that unverified information circulating online has complicated aspects of the investigation, stressing that accurate, verified information is critical as detectives continue to track Merino’s movements.
The department’s latest statement followed criticism from a human rights organization that called on CSPD Thursday to intensify its investigation into Merino’s disappearance. The Human Rights Association, based in South Africa, also called on the department to treat the case as an endangered missing child investigation until the evidence establishes otherwise, and to ensure that continuous, senior-level investigative attention is applied to the case without interruption, the organization said in a written announcement.
Anyone with information about Merino is urged to contact Coral Springs Police Detective Daniel Powers at 954-346-1223 or dpowers@coralsprings.gov.
The case remains active, police said.
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