STATE OF VERMONT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

VERMONT STATE POLICE

 

CASE#: 21A100291

RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Detective Sgt. Jacob Metayer

STATION: Vermont State Police – Williston Barracks                     

CONTACT#: 802-878-7111

 

DATE/TIME: January 27, 2021 / 1628 hours

INCIDENT LOCATION: Poker Hill Road, Underhill

 

VICTIM: Leydi Lopez

AGE: 18

CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Underhill, VT

 

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:

At about 2:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, members of the federal Homeland Security Investigations, working on this case in conjunction with the Vermont State Police, located Leydi Lopez safe out of state.

 

Ms. Lopez spoke with investigators and indicated she left Vermont voluntarily and wished to remain out of the state, which as an 18-year-old adult she is free to do.

 

State police have determined there was no criminal behavior associated with Ms. Lopez’s disappearance and have concluded the missing-persons investigation.

 

The state police thanks the members of the public who provided information about the case, as well as our law-enforcement and first-responder partners who devoted time and resources to the investigation.

 

As no criminal conduct occurred in connection to the missing-persons case, no further information is available.

 

 

***Update No. 2, 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021***

An exhaustive ground search along Poker Hill Road in Underhill has uncovered no signs of Leydi Lopez. With the onset of darkness and additional investigative leads, the Vermont State Police is scaling back its outdoors search effort and concentrating on work by detectives from the Criminal Division.

 

Police would like to speak with anyone who traveled in the vicinity of Poker Hill Road and Timber Ridge Road from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Jan. 27, and saw anything unusual or possibly connected to this investigation.

 

Members of the public with information may call the Vermont State Police in Williston 802-878-7111 or leave an anonymous tip online at www.vtips.us.

 

 

***Update No. 1, 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021***

The Vermont State Police is continuing to investigate the disappearance of 18-year-old Leydi Lopez, who was last seen at about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, leaving her home on Poker Hill Road in Underhill to go for a walk. Investigators are considering all possibilities related to this missing-persons case.

 

State police have learned that Lopez may have encountered an orange car that had slid off Poker Hill Road and a second vehicle, a dark-colored pickup truck, possibly a Chevrolet, with a cap and building material in the bed, that had stopped to help pull the orange car back onto the road. Investigators would like to speak with the drivers of these vehicles about what they might have seen and encourage them to call the Vermont State Police in Williston at 802-878-7111.

 

Members of the Vermont State Police working on this investigation include members of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Major Crime Unit and Field Force Division, along with special teams including Search and Rescue, K-9 Unit and the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program. Colchester Technical Rescue also is assisting in ongoing search efforts.

 

Police continue to ask that anyone who has any information about this case or who may have seen Lopez call VSP Williston at 802-878-7111. People also may leave anonymous tips online at www.vtips.us.

 

No further information is currently available. Updates will be provided as the investigation proceeds.

 

 

***Initial news release, 3:05 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021***

On the above date and time, the Vermont State Police was notified of a missing 18-year-old female. They were advised the female, identified as Leydi Lopez, went for a walk from her residence in Underhill around 11:15am and did not return home. Leydi is described as 4’ 11”, approximately 125 pounds, tan/brown skin tone, dark black hair just below the shoulders. She was last seen wearing a blue/green jacket with a hood, black leggings, orange socks, and white sneakers. The Vermont State Police is asking the public to please call Williston Barracks at 802-878-7111 with any information.

 

 

- 30 -