Girl vanishes in wilkes-barre as police begin missing person search

WILKES-BARRE, PA — A 17-year-old girl who left her home Thursday may have traveled to the Duryea area, prompting an active search by the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department.

Kansa Ryer was reported missing on Thursday, and investigators say she may be accompanied by a male identified as Rashid Smith, according to police.

Description and last known details

Police described Ryer as approximately 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 130 pounds. She was last seen wearing a red hoodie, black shorts, and brown shoes.

Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance or how long she has been in the Duryea area.

The Wilkes-Barre City Police Department is asking the public for help in locating her as the search continues.

—

Key Points
• 17-year-old Kansa Ryer reported missing Thursday in Wilkes-Barre
• May have traveled to Duryea and could be with a male identified by police
• Public urged to contact police with any information

—

Police urge public assistance

Lt. Matt Stash of the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department is leading the effort and asked anyone with information about Ryer’s whereabouts to come forward.

Police have not indicated whether foul play is suspected, but missing juvenile cases are often treated with urgency due to safety concerns.

Community tips can play a critical role in helping investigators locate missing individuals quickly and safely.

What happens next

Authorities continue to follow leads and are encouraging anyone who may have seen Ryer or knows her location to contact Lt. Matt Stash at 570-208-0911.

The case remains active as police work to locate the missing juvenile.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.