Samantha Hernandez

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Authorities in Sturgeon Bay and Milwaukee are continuing to search for a missing Sturgeon Bay teen last known to be in the Milwaukee area.

Louis J. Amelinckx, 17, left his home around 2 a.m. Monday and received a ride from the Sturgeon Bay library to an apartment in Green Bay with two men he met online, said Sturgeon Bay Police Capt. Dan Brinkman on Wednesday. Amelinckx has black hair, brown eyes, is 5 feet 8 inches, and weighs 120 pounds. He has a small scar on the left side of his mouth and three shaved lines in his hair on each side of his head. He was last seen wearing a black coat, a baseball cap with a gray bill and carrying a backpack.

On Wednesday, a woman gave Amelinckx a ride from Oshkosh to a McDonald's on the corner of 25th Street and National Avenue in Milwaukee, Brinkman said. The woman told authorities at the time Amelinckx did not seem to be in distress.

According to a Wisconsin Crime Alert Network news release, the teen appears to be frequenting places with public Wi-Fi. Amelinckx has also been without needed prescription medication for several days.

According to Brinkman, Amelinckx and his mother were at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee two weeks ago for a college visit.

The police department is now working with the Milwaukee Police Department's Sensitive Crimes Division, he said.

Earlier story below.

Authorities' search for a missing Sturgeon Bay teen has now turned to the Milwaukee area.

Previously the last signal from his cellphone was at 7:50 p.m. Tuesday in the High Avenue area in Oshkosh, Brinkman said Wednesday morning.

By Wednesday afternoon, evidence showed Amelinckx left Oshkosh around noon and he reached the Milwaukee area by 2:30 p.m., Brinkman said. Amelinckx may have been spotted by authorities around 3:40 p.m.

It is unknown how Amelinckx is traveling with limited funds, he said.

The Sturgeon Bay Police Department is being assisted by the Division of Criminal Investigation, and law enforcement in Brown and Winnebago counties. They are also in contact with National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

Authorities are continuing to ask the public for help finding Amelinckx.

The Sturgeon Bay Police Department can be reached at 920-746-2450.

Earlier story below.

A Sturgeon Bay teen missing since early Monday morning is thought to be in Oshkosh and could be in danger, according to police.

Louis Amelinckx, 17, left his home around 2 a.m. Monday and received a ride from the Sturgeon Bay library to an apartment in Green Bay with two men he met online, said Sturgeon Bay Police Capt. Dan Brinkman. Amelinckx has black hair, brown eyes, is 5 feet 8 inches, and weighs 120 pounds. He was wearing a black coat.

The last signal from his cellphone was at 7:50 p.m. Tuesday in the High Street area in Oshkosh, Brinkman said.

The two men who last saw the teen have given conflicting stories when interviewed by Division of Criminal Investigation, Brinkman said.

It appears Amelinckx wanted to return to Sturgeon Bay but did not have the money to do so, he said. The men told officers they believe Amelinckx took a Greyhound bus to Oshkosh.

One of the men is a Green Bay resident and the other was described by the police captain as a “transient” from Milwaukee. Neither has been arrested.

Amelinckx does have a history of drug use, Brinkman said. He is thought to be in the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh area, and University Police are looking for him.

“The difficulty of that is because of his age he blends in with every other college student there,” Brinkman said.

The Sturgeon Bay Police Department is being assisted by DCI, and law enforcement in Brown and Winnebago counties. They are also in contact with National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

It is believed Amelinckx was texting with Sturgeon Bay Police officer Jim Gray Tuesday night, Brinkman said. Authorities based this assumption on the questions and answers the person was giving the officer.

"At one time Louis said he needs to get out of a dangerous situation, a scary situation, but in the same text message says it was a big misunderstanding. That's when everything went silent from there," he said.

It is unknown why the teen left home, but Amelinckx's family is worried.

Brinkman urged Amelinckx to call law enforcement and "give us some information that you are OK. If you need to be picked up I’ll go down there and get you.”

The Sturgeon Bay Police Department can be reached at 920-746-2450.

svhernande@doorcountyadvocate.com, Samantha Hernandez on Facebook or 920-743-3321, ext. 4112.