North Carolina Women, Newly Engaged, Reported Missing Under 'Unusual' Circumstances

Wilmington, North Carolina police are investigating the disappearance of two female roommates who are reportedly engaged, Wednesday.

Paige Escalera, 25, and Stephanie Mayorga, 27, were reported missing by their roommate on April 19 to the Wilmington police 72 hours after they did not come home.

In an online press conference on April 29, Capt. Thomas Tillman said that the disappearance was “suspicious” citing undisclosed information received by police.

Tillman said that although it was not out of the ordinary for people of Escalera and Mayorga’s age group to act spontaneously, police found it “unusual” that the roommates did not come back home and left all of their belongings in the apartment.

He also said that officers did not find signs of foul play on initial investigation of the property and that all of the properties of Escalera and Mayorga remained intact in the apartment.

Video surveillance showed that Escalera and Mayorga left the apartment together and entered a gray 2013 Dodge Dart on the night of their disappearance, police said.

SABLE aircraft have been used to track down the couple’s car in addition to police receiving assistance from other local, state and federal agencies.

Tillman said that investigators are currently working on a connection for Escalera in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Investigators are also trying to corroborate unconfirmed information about the couple in Brunswick County, NC.

Police are advising concerned persons and authorities to be on the lookout for the Dodge Dart, identifiable by damage to the left side of the rear bumper and two stickers on the bottom corners of the rear glass.

Investigators have also reached out to the friends, family and co-workers of both women to find any connections and clues about where they might go, Tillman also said.

A total of 14,544 people were reported missing in North Carolina in 2018, according to a report by the NC Center for Missing Persons. One-third of all missing persons are female. Most missing persons reported are found within 24 hours.

The Center also says North Carolina is one of a handful of U.S. states with an information clearinghouse for missing children and adults.

People requiring immediate assistance are urged to call its toll-free number 1-800-522-5437.