Missing: Melissa Kennedy

Gothamist heard about this missing young woman on the news last night, but this morning, a friend of her family asked Gothamist to post this:

Melissa Kennedy has been not heard from or seen since Friday night, when she was dropped off by a friend at at Metro-North Train Station in upstate New York, near Bard College. Her train would have gotten her into Grand Central Station at 10:18pm. Melissa was coming home to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, for the weekend and it is not known if she got on the train or ever made it into the city.
Anyone with any information please call 1-845-451-4000.

Her father, George Kennedy, tells NY1, "I traveled back to Poughkeepsie, traveling about trying to find Melissa. I then went through the Metro-North system, stopping at every station, physically searching those stations hoping to find my daughter.�

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on February 26, 2004 9:35 AM

Comments [rss]

JB

For those you who don't understand why cops don't respond asap to frantic parents when they think their children have run away...WELL this is the reason. Don't get me wrong as I think most cops are not legit but so I am no huge supporter of the averager copper. But, this is why they wait. Too bad isn't it? They wait because of the FEW like Melissa Kennedy who decided not to call her parents when she takes off. The majority who ARE abducted and killed, pay the price of the waiting because of this female Melissa Kennedy.

Anonymous

Marla,

Thanks for your response. I am very sorry to hear about your friend. That’s horrible.

Marla

I would like to apologize to Melissa and her family and friends (or whoever see my first comments), I do not know Melissa and her situation and was ignorant to spout those things. So I do apologize! In the grand scheme of things the only thing that matters is that she is safe and with her family and I truly do hope she receives the care she requires. I had a friend who was abducted and found dead and I let my feelings cloud this particular issue. My mother only spoke highly of Mrs. Kennedy so I "assumed" Melissa was just sowing her wild oates but again I apologize.

Anonymous

I agree with Adam. Marla, your parents working together does not make you an expert on Melissa's psychological health. Melissa is far from spoiled. She is a kind and compassionate girl who has some problems. She has been through a lot of traumatic events which may have caused her to breakdown. And I believe that she truly did not know what she was doing the last two weeks. She did NOT do this for attention. She is sick. What's important is that she is ok and that she receives the help that she needs.

Adam

I actually know the girl who was missing and those of you who have simply heard about this on the news or read articles have no business spectulating about her and calling her spoiled. She did not run away to get attention or to cause a fuss. She's had a kind of mental breakdown and when that kind of thing happens you can't judge a person's actions like you would just anybody. Try to be more understanding and stop the name calling please. It's hurtful to those of us who know her and would really hurt her if she read it.

Marla

I agree with Angel. Her mother works with my mother and frankly the only "psychological" problems this girl has is that she is 21 and selfish and immature. Her poor parents, no matter what they did, the end did not justify the means. Just one thing, I wonder if the thousands of dollars donated to finding her will go to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to help parents of REAL missing children?

Angel

What is wrong with this girl? Her parents are frantic and her face is all over the news and papers and she comes forward two weeks later? I personally think this is just some selfish, prissy, spoiled girl who wanted to go party. Unbelievable.

Jennifer

They found her safe and sound. She had run away and turned herself in early this morning. Just in case anyone wanted to know...

Jennifer

The train station is a ghost town at 8:30pm at night...My point is that someone had to see her there. Any one who was on the train that night, whether they saw her or not need to come forward and aid in the investigation. I am very saddened by this being a Bard Alumm. If anyone even has an idea as to where she could have gone, for example a restaurant or bar, please call the police

Alisson Garib

I went to Bard College. Bard is not exactly that much near the Metro North Station. However, more students take the Metro North than Amtrack because it's cheaper. There is even a Bard shuttle that goes to and from the Metro North Station on weakends in order for student to go to the city. There is also the loop bus that goes there. There are definetly many ways that students get to the station. By car, it only takes 25 minutes to get to Poughkeepsie. Pretty much, what I am trying to say is that on weekends, the station is filled with Bard students as well as other students, so it is not at all unlikely that she went to that station.

Diane Lowy

Bard is not near Metro-North. There is an Amtrak station at Rhinecliff which is close but that would mean she arrived at Penn Station. The closest Metro-North station is in Poughkeepsie, 45 minutes away, but that train would have her arriving at Grand Central. Hope this helps.