Missing Indian teen Tanvi Marupally found safe
Marupally found in Tampa, Florida, 1,000 miles away from her Arkansas home 75 days after she went missing
The month seems to have ended well for the family of a 15-year-old Indian schoolgirl who went missing earlier in January without any trace or news.
After more than 75 days, Tanvi Marupally has been found safe and seemingly healthy in Tampa, Florida – about 1,000 miles away from her Arkansas home.
Read: Vigil held for missing Indian teen Tanvi Marupally (February 13, 2023)
The details on why Tanvi went missing and what was she doing these past more than two months are yet to emerge. But for the family and friends who were tirelessly working towards finding her safe this has been a happy end to their hard work.
Jenny Wallace a community member from Tanvi’s neighborhood who volunteered in organizing campaigns and search parties ever since Tanvi went missing has been working very hard to create awareness about the missing teen.
In a chat with the American Bazaar she informed about the ceremony the community members organized just this past Sunday to mark Tanvi’s 15th birthday.
“Since March 24 was Tanvi’s 15th birthday. This Sunday, we organized a ceremony at our public library where we planted a tree for Tanvi’s birthday,” she said.
Wallace said, “What we are seeing unfold is an absolute miracle. A miracle that has been ushered in by God using this community to make noise and never give up. A miracle that has been made possible by so many shouldering the burden for this sweet family and fighting like hell for Tanvi.”
In Tanvi’s Conway, Arkansas community many volunteers as well as small businesses have been coming out in support of the campaign to find Tanvi. As Tanvi gets back to her family home, a welcome yard signby Card my Yard saying: “Welcome Tanvi. We love you,” has been put up.
Tanvi’s disappearance has been a topic of great concern and discussion in the immigration circles too. Her parents, Pavan Roy Marupally and Sridevi Eadara are on H visas in the US.
When Tanvi went missing her parents had expressed concern that she may have run off fearing deportation as the family had discussed their prospects in the event of her dad an H-1B professional losing his job.
About three years ago, her mother Sreedevi Eadara who lost her job had to return to India to change her visa status – a process that took her a year to return to the US.
There were also reports that during this time Tanvi had run away from her home too. Clearing the air about her past disappearance. Wallace told, “She was in a field across from their house three years ago because she was upset she might have to move to India. She was gone for only 12 hours or so.”
The news of Tanvi being found safe was confirmed by the Conway Police Department. According to the police, Tanvi was found after a Tampa resident shared a tip through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Read: Indian American Teen Missing Since January Found Alive and Safe in Florida (March 30, 2023)
According to reports officials with the Tampa Police Department said that the agency received a tip from the Conway Police Department around 1 pm CDT. After receiving the tip, officers in Tampa headed to the John F. Germany library where they found Marupally.
According to official reports Tanvi was found healthy and uninjured. The teen’s parents have been informed and Conway police are working with Tampa officials and US Marshals Service to bring the teen back home.
