Search expands for missing 15-year-old Magnolia girl whose cell was found in wooded area

Authorities in Montgomery County have expanded their search for Ryder Cambron, who went missing while riding an off-road vehicle on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. Authorities in Montgomery County have expanded their search for Ryder Cambron, who went missing while riding an off-road vehicle on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. Photo: Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Photo: Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Search expands for missing 15-year-old Magnolia girl whose cell was found in wooded area 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

Authorities searching for a 15-year-old Magnolia girl Wednesday stopped short of speculating she was a victim of foul play after an exhaustive, overnight search turned up few clues into her disappearance.

Ryder Cambron was last seen just prior to 8 p.m. Tuesday riding an utility task vehicle near near her home in the Indigo Lakes neighborhood in Magnolia. Officials with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said said they had no information to suggest the teen had been kidnapped.

FEW CLUES: More agencies join the search for Ryder Cambron

"Right now, she is being treated as a missing person until we have credible information that shows otherwise," said Montgomery County's Lt. Scott Spencer at news conference. "The investigation is still going, it has not ended by any means. She is not where she is supposed to be so that is why we are trying to locate her."

The search for the missing teen intensified overnight after authorities found her cell phone and the UTV she was riding in a wooded area near a park at Indigo Lake Estates, said Montgomery County Sheriff's Office deputy Steve Squier.

Despite multiple agencies searching throughout the night near where she went missing, officials said they have not been able to locate Ryder, and detectives are widening the search beyond the initial wooded area.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is leading the search in the area of where she was last seen, Squier said.

It's not clear whether Ryder's family, who have been cooperative during the investigation, was aware she had left the home.

Ryder was last seen wearing a green camo hoodie and black sport shorts. She is 5 feet and 9 inches tall and weights about 110 pounds.

"That is one of the suspicious things detectives are looking at," Spencer said, noting the rainy weather conditions as Tropical Storm Imelda moved into the area. "Her being out at that time, in those clothes, on that ATV."

Her family has been in "constant contact" with our detectives, he said.

Detectives are also looking into all possible scenarios surrounding her disappearance and are asking friends and family who may have surveillance footage to come forward.

They are urging the public against forming private search parties, as inclement weather from the remnants of Tropical Storm Imelda continue to threaten Montgomery County, officials said.

Montgomery County officials are in contact with trained search and rescue organizations, it said in a release.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office asks the public to follow credible and verified government and media sources for information surrounding the disappearance of Ryder Cambron.

If you have info about Ryder's whereabouts, please contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 936-760-5800 and refer to case number 19A303837.

Michelle Iracheta is a digital reporter in Houston. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | michelle.iracheta@chron.com