Police Seek Help in Finding Teenage Girl
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NORTH HOLLYWOOD — A 15-year-old girl has been missing since she left a group home two weeks ago out of fear that she might have to testify in a murder case, authorities said Wednesday.
Police and relatives asked the public’s help in locating Lisa Chamberlain, who is 5 feet, 7 inches tall and has long, dark brown hair.
“Our concern is for her safety,” said LAPD Det. Vince Bancroft. “We don’t want her to be picked up by some predator-type person or be used by somebody. She looks a lot older than she is.”
On May 10, 1998, while walking to a 7-Eleven about 1 a.m., Chamberlain accepted a ride from a stranger, Alexander Pleitez, 22, police said.
With Chamberlain in the car, Pleitez encountered two men, Luis Lara and Efren Vazguez, chased and shot them as they waited at a red light at Sherman Way and Laurel Canyon Boulevard, police said. Lara was killed and Vazguez was wounded. Pleitez is awaiting trial on murder charges.
Authorities said they can successfully prosecute their case without Chamberlain’s testimony, and are fearful that by running away she may have opened herself to dangers unrelated to the case.
Bancroft said anyone with information about Chamberlain can call the North Hollywood Division at (818) 623-4045, or after hours at (818) 623-4016.
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