A missing Florida teen has been found alive and safe more than 1,200 miles away from home, sparking a wave of relief after weeks of desperate searching.
Sophia Veronica Cover, 16, vanished from her family’s home in Golden Gate Estates during the early morning hours of July 31. Surveillance cameras captured her quietly sneaking out, leaving her father Rick Cover devastated and confused.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, an emotional Rick Cover shared the news that his daughter was located in New Jersey by the FBI. “Tonight our family finally gets to say the words we have been praying for: Our girl is safe,” he wrote.
He praised the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and Detective Marisol Rodriguez for their tireless work. He also thanked the community for sharing flyers, sending tips, and keeping Sophia’s story alive online.
According to reports, the teen was staying with friends when authorities found her. Her father told Gulf Coast News he plans to fly to New Jersey immediately to reunite with her after 11 agonizing days apart.
Cover noted he is still waiting on word from the Department of Children and Families about how she got so far from home and when he can pick her up. “We’re going to take it a day at a time,” he said.
The search effort was massive, with Cover refusing to believe his daughter had run away. He spearheaded a community-wide campaign that spanned social media and the streets of Florida.
Now, as the family prepares for a long-awaited reunion, questions remain about what led Sophia to leave in the middle of the night and how she ended up so far from home. What will the next chapter reveal?
