Austin mother searches for her missing 18-year-old daughter.

By Suzannah Gonzales
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Every day for the past week, in the area near Rundberg Lane and Interstate 35 in North Austin, Elizabeth Harris has searched for her missing 18-year-old daughter.

In hotels and stores. Under I-35. In ditches. In trash bins. She posts fliers. She approaches strangers.

Roxanne Paultaf Was last seen by boyfriend on July 7, mother says.

"This is my daughter," Harris, 41, says, holding up a photograph of Roxanne Paultaf. "Have you seen this girl?"

Police said Friday that attempts to find Paultaf have been unsuccessful, and the department took the rare step of releasing a news release for a missing person.

Paultaf's on-and-off boyfriend of two years was the last one who had seen her, at about 8:30 p.m. July 7, Harris said.

The couple had been staying at the Budget Inn near East Rundberg Lane and I-35, spending time together alone, Harris said.

They had an argument, the boyfriend told Harris the next day. Paultaf walked out. He went after her. She told him to leave her alone. Later, he went looking. He couldn't find her.

A few hours after his call, Harris called the police.

"My mind's going crazy," Harris said Friday. "I don't know what's going on."

"I'm fearing the worst has happened. I'm trying not to," she said, crying. "I just need to know where she's at."

And it's not like Paultaf not to call, Harris said. Mother and daughter speak often, at least every other day. But Paultaf hasn't contacted her family or friends since July 7.

"She hasn't even tried to call her own cell phone," which was left in the hotel with all of her belongings, Harris said.

Only her ID was missing.

The eldest of five children and on track to earn a GED, Paultaf is talented, artistic, bright, beautiful and helpful at the family's French Place home, Harris said, a girl with dreams who aspires to study fashion and interior design.

Paultaf, who is 5-foot-4 and 124 pounds with green eyes and brown hair, was last seen wearing white shorts, a pink tank top and flip-flops, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call 911.

"She's our lifeline," Harris said. "I've got to find her."

Butterfly

Police search for missing woman

Updated: 7/15/2006 10:53 AM
By: News 8 Austin Staff

Austin police are asking for help locating a missing 18-year-old woman.

Roxanne Paultaf was last seen at a hotel on Interstate 35, just south of Rutherford Lane on July 7.

She was reported missing by her family the next day. Paultaf was staying with a friend at the hotel.

Detectives say Paultaf may have been seen in the area of Rundberg Lane and I-35 North on July 9 and 10, but they have not been able to locate her.

Paultaf is five feet four inches and about 124 pounds. She has green eyes and brown hair and was last seen wearing white shorts, a pink tank top and flip flops.

Anyone who may have seen her is asked to call 911.

 

Source:

http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=166661

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