The family of a missing pregnant high school teacher is offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to her whereabouts.
Laura Wallen was last seen at the Olney, Maryland, condo about 8:30 a.m. Sept. 4. Her family said they received a "troubling" text message from her about an hour later but attempts to reach her failed. Police have not released the contents of the text message she sent.
"I wanted to let Laura know that we're looking for her and we're not giving up on her," her father, Mark Wallen, said at a press conference Monday afternoon. "Whoever might be helping and hiding her, please come forward."
Laura Wallen's Ford Escape was discovered Sept. 7 at an apartment complex in Howard County. The SUV wasn't far from Wilde Lake High School where Wallen teaches in the Social Studies department.
The first day of school was Tuesday. She did not show up.
"If somebody has her, please understand that you've taken away a huge person in so many people's life," said Laura Wallen's boyfriend, Tyler Tessier.
Laura Wallen is four months pregnant, and her family said she was excited about it and posted her sonogram on her refrigerator.
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"I don't know where she is. I don't know," Tessier said. "I pray that she's safe and that she comes back. That's all I care about."
Police said Tessier is the father of Wallen's baby.
"Laura, if you're listening, it doesn't matter what's happened," Tessier said. "It doesn't matter what type of trouble. There's nothing we can't fix together -- myself and your family."
Police are waiting for crime lab results from the SUV.
"Members of our electronic crimes unit are searching her computer for clues as well," Montgomery County Police Lt. Sean Gagen said.
Laura Wallen is 5-feet-5-inches tall, weighing 200 pounds and has blonde hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information about Laura Wallen's location should call police at 301-279-8000.
