Fredericksburg police are continuing their search for 17-year-old Autumn Van Zandt after she was reported missing earlier this week, and investigators say they are following leads that place her with a 39-year-old man believed to be in the Woodbridge area.
According to the Fredericksburg Police Department, Autumn was reported missing Tuesday, May 19, around 1 p.m. Detectives later received information indicating she may be traveling with Ronnie Reel. While police currently believe Autumn left voluntarily, officers stressed that her age makes locating her safely the department’s top concern.
Police describe Autumn as a 17-year-old white female, about 5-foot-7 and 135 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black top and jean shorts while carrying a red purse. Investigators also noted she has a heart-shaped tattoo on either her left or right hip.
Authorities have now obtained warrants charging Reel with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. Police say neither Reel nor Autumn are known to have access to a vehicle, making it unclear how they may be traveling throughout the region. Investigators believe they could currently be somewhere near Woodbridge.
The case has drawn attention across the Fredericksburg area, though police say the situation does not currently meet the legal standard required for an AMBER Alert because investigators have not confirmed an abduction. Even so, detectives say they are dedicating significant resources to the search effort.
Fredericksburg police are urging residents throughout the I-95 corridor, including commuters between Fredericksburg and Northern Virginia, to stay alert and report any sightings or information that could help investigators locate Autumn safely.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fredericksburg Police Department at 540-373-3122, option 2. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by texting “FPDtip” to 847-411.