#FindTeleka: Twitter users rally to find missing Michigan resident

Missing woman's family and friends spread the word of her disappearance on social media.

Storified by AJAMStream· Mon, Dec 16 2013 13:15:33

Patrick's brother used his Twitter account to share pictures and the circumstances surrounding his sister's disappearance.

My sister disappeared from her medical residency program. Help us #FindTeleka http://t.co/OnVz7TjJ86MattOnKeyz

Please help us find my sister!!! Missing since December 5th from Michigan. #FindTeleka http://t.co/chIQC646zPMattOnKeyz

The story of Teleka Patrick quickly spread on Twitter. The hashtag #FindTeleka has been used nearly 24,000 times in the past few days.

This is very serious one of my pastors daughters is missing #findteleka http://t.co/pCPh3cFIdMYasmeen Henry

In addition to their online campaign, Patrick's family and friends are also canvassing in the cities of Portage and Gary, Indiana - the areas closest to where her car was found - with missing persons posters.

Find Teleka

On Twitter, many sympathized with Teleka Patrick's disappearance, seeing themselves or their friends in her situation.

I look at her and i see myself, i see my friends. We are all #Teleka. Click to help bring her home #findteleka- http://t.co/EdhMvefkzmZainab A

It could've been me. #FindTelekaMs. Boss

The Teleka Patrick story is becoming dear to my heart. When I see her I see myself. #FindTeleka #FindTelekaDistinctive Female

Stream community member Leah Doolittle pointed out disparities in media coverage of missing minorities.

@julito77 @AJAMStream #FindTeleka and how missing people of color get no media attentionLeah Doolittle

The racial imbalance of missing persons stories is often referred to as the "Missing White Girl Syndrome."

When a Child Dies: Dori Maynard on "Missing White Girl Syndrome"JCCF Journalism Center on Children & Families

According to the nonprofit organization Black & Missing , people of color make up 40 percent of all missing persons in the United States.

A candlelight vigil will be held for Patrick on December 16 at 6:00pm ET in Kalamazoo.

David Ruff Ii