Carlsbad Police Seek Help With Missing Teen

Carlsbad Police are hoping the public can help them find missing 17-year-old Christine Jelinek. Police believe Jelinek (pictured above), who disappeared early the morning of January 4, 2012, visited with a white adult male 45-50 years old on January 3, 2012 at Mariah’s Restaurant in Vista. The man (above right), whom she may have communicated with over the Internet, is described as:

. . . a white male adult, 45-50 years old, about 5’11”, weighing about 160 lbs, unknown eye color, and hair described as short and lighter on the bottom and dark on the top, and also described as “peppered”. At the sighting, he was wearing jeans, and a blue or gray button down shirt. . . The male is unknown to Christine’s parents, her associates and friends.

After meeting at Mariah’s, the man drove Christine to her home. Early the next morning Christine left her home and has not been seen or made contact with her family since. Jelinek is a white female 5’9” tall, about 150 lbs., with shoulder length dark brown hair and brown eyes. She reportedly left home with two pairs of jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt (which she may be wearing).

Anyone with any information about Christine’s whereabouts or any information on the man in the above sketch should contact the Carlsbad Police Department at (760) 931-2223. Follow the jump for more info.Statement from today’s 2 p.m. news conference:

Good Afternoon,

I am Lt. Paul Mendes with the City of Carlsbad Police Department. I want to thank the members of the media for their attendance here today and for their assistance thus far with our efforts to locate missing juvenile Christine Jelinek.

With me today are Sgt. Steve Thomas of the Family Services Unit and Detective Damian Garcia, the lead investigator. Also joining us are the parents of Christine Jelinek, Mr. Danny Smith and Mrs. Kaitlyn Smith.

I have a brief statement, with some handouts to give you. We will then have the parents give a brief statement as well, and then we will take a few questions.

On Jan. 3 at about 11 am, Christine Jelinek was seen at the Boxing Club located at 1691 Melrose Dr. Ste 180 in the city of Vista, just on the border of Vista and Carlsbad. She was there for her routine workout. She was only there for a short time, and then left to go to the Subway nearby, which has WIFI capabilities. She may have used the WIFI to make contact with the person of interest. She was joined by this man, described as a white male adult, 45-50 years old, about 5’11”, weighing about 160 lbs, unknown eye color, and hair described as short and lighter on the bottom and dark on the top, and also described as “peppered”. At the sighting, he was wearing jeans, and a blue or gray button down shirt. We will pass out hard copies of the composite sketch, along with copies of Christine’s photo, and I will send you electronic copies of both immediately following this conference.

After meeting at the Subway, they went to Mariah’s Restaurant, also nearby. They spent about 45 minutes there together, then, Christine was driven home by this subject. The male is unknown to Christine’s parents, her associates and friends.

It is believed in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Jan. 4, that Christine left her home and has not been seen or has made contact with her family since. Investigators have followed up on many leads and potential sightings, and the Police Department, as well as the Smiths, are deeply concerned about her welfare.

Christine is described as a white female, 17 years old, 5’9” tall, about 150 lbs., with shoulder length dark brown hair and brown eyes. Christine took 2 pairs of jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt, so she may be wearing them. She also had in her possession 7 or 8 artists books and possible a Nintendo DS Play Station.

Additionally, the National Center for Missing Children has been notified and has activated a case as well for Christine.

Anyone one with any information about Christine’s whereabouts or has seen her or the man in the composite sketch are urged to call our tip line, which has been set up specifically for this investigation. The number is 760-931-2223. If you have immediate observation of Christine, please call the law enforcement authority in your jurisdiction and report her location to them immediately.

And, If you are the man who made contact with Christine and drove her home on Jan. 3, please call Detective Damian Garcia at the Carlsbad Police Department at 760-931-2144. We need your help and information to help us find Christine.

Media Contact

Paul Mendes, Lieutenant

Professional Standards and Services Division

Carlsbad Police Department

2560 Orion Way

Carlsbad, CA 92010

760-931-2260