The anguished family of missing Kesgrave teenager Kennedy Palmer have pleaded with her to return home – after revealing they have had concerns about her use of the internet.
The 15-year-old has not been seen since leaving home for school at 8am on Thursday morning. She did not arrive at Kesgrave High School and has not been seen since.
Her worried parents have now spoken about their fears following her disappearance – and her mother Nicola said she had had worries about Kennedy’s online contacts.
When Kennedy was 11 Mrs Palmer took away her mobile phone for 18 months because she feared she was sending pictures of herself by Skype.
And a year ago Mrs Palmer asked a local police officer to visit their home on Grange Farm to warn Kennedy about the dangers of internet use.
She said: “The officer told her that she might think it’s her mum being over-protective, but that I really was only doing this to try to protect her from some of the people out there.”
Mrs Palmer was speaking alongside Kennedy’s father Jamie – although they are no longer a couple.
Mr Palmer said: “We want Kennedy to know she is not in any trouble. We both just want her to come back home safe.”
The police have been examining Kennedy’s computer and are recovering some of the messages that were found to be deleted.
Mrs Palmer said she was particularly worried because Kennedy’s phone had been switched off since shortly after she left home – and she does not have the charger she needs: “It’s an unusual phone, you can’t just use a Samsung charger or one like that,” she said.
Since her disappearance Mrs Palmer had heard rumours that Kennedy had been in contact with an older man online – but did not want to think about that.
She said: “We want to think that she’s gone to a friend’s and told them she doesn’t want to be found. If that is the case I’d say to the friend, please contact the police to let them know where she is – even if she doesn’t want to come home yet.”
Her disappearance was totally out of character. There had been no family row – Kennedy had been helping her mother to decorate their home in Kesgrave.
Mrs Palmer said: “She left absolutely as normal. The only thing that was different was that she did not take her bike. She almost always bikes to school although she does occasionally meet up with friends at Tesco before walking there.”
Kennedy always goes to school, except when she is ill, and Mrs Palmer said none of her school friends had gone missing – which heightens her concern.
Mrs Palmer is being supported by her partner Jason Warren and by other members of the family and friends who live in the area.
They have produced thousands of flyers and posters that have been distributed around the Kesgrave, Foxhall and Levington area – and in Ipswich town centre.
Volunteers are organising searches today and tomorrow.
Businesses have been helping out by printing the posters for free and there is also a Facebook page Find Kennedy Palmer which is encouraging people to help in the search.
Mrs Palmer spent yesterday afternoon leafletting Ipswich town centre and during the evening she handed out posters at Foxhall Stadium races – Kennedy often goes to events there.
Kennedy is described as white, around 5ft 3ins to 5ft 4ins tall, of slim build with a distinctive hairstyle which is long dark brown hair on one side and shaved on the other side.
Her hair is now dark brown all over with very faint purple streaks, slightly different from the photograph that is being issued of her.
She was wearing a light blue T-shirt, a navy blue jumper , dark trousers and Clarks black lace-up ankle boots at the time she was last seen. Kennedy is believed to have been carrying a distinctive black backpack with a black and white design.
Superintendent David Cutler, from the Protecting Vulnerable People directorate said, “I am increasingly concerned for Kennedy’s safety and would ask that anyone who may have seen her, or anyone who has any information on her whereabouts, to contact Police as a matter of urgency. We are continuing with extensive work to locate her at this time.”
Anyone who may have seen Kennedy, or anyone with information about where she is now are asked to immediately contact Suffolk police by dialling 101.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here