Oregon Dept. of Human Services
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News Release
A photo of missing child Mataya Gearhart
A photo of missing child Mataya Gearhart
Missing child alert -- Mataya Gearhart, a foster child, is missing and in danger - 01/25/21

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Mataya Gearhart, age 17, a foster child who went missing from Portland. on Jan. 23, 2021. She is believed to be in danger.

Mataya Gearhart is believed to either be in Portland or to have traveled out Oregon, possibly to California. She may be traveling in a Lexus with a 23-year-old man.

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) asks the public to help in the effort to find her and to contact 911 or local law enforcement if they believe they see her or have information about her.

Name: Mataya Gearhart
Pronouns: She/Her
Date of birth: Nov. 7, 2003
Height: 5’06
Weight: 180 pounds
Eyes: Dark brown
Hair: Black, shaved
Other identifying information: Mataya wears wigs over her shaved head
Portland Police Bureau Case #2122550
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #1411708

A small number of children in foster care may be in significant danger when they run away or have gone missing. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and ensure their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.

Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233).  This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

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