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Bertha Dyer Search Update: Police Turn To Public For Help As Few Clues Emerge In Search For Missing Principal

By Nathan Francis
Published on: 02:29 PST, Sep 2, 2016

The search for Bertha Dyer is expanding this week, with police turning to the public for help three days after the New Jersey elementary school principal was last seen leaving her school.

Dyer was reported missing on Wednesday by her sister, who noted that Dyer was last seen leaving Mount Vernon Elementary School in Newark at 3 p.m. Dyer’s family and colleagues became concerned when she did not return the following day, NJ.com reported. It set off alarms for those close to Dyer, as the elementary school principal is known for always being punctual.

“Ms. Dyer was scheduled for multiple meetings on Wednesday that she did not attend,” police said in a statement.

One of Dyer’s colleagues reportedly contacted the woman’s sister, who then called the police.

Police had launched a search for Bertha Dyer, who is described as five foot, four inches tall and drives a white 2011 Toyota 4Runner with a New Jersey license plate of U79GXM.

While the circumstances surrounding Dyer’s disappearance remain a mystery, police do not believe the 68-year-old principal was abducted.

“There are no obvious signs of foul play,” said Franklin police Sgt. Philip Rizzo. “Our detectives are using all the tools at their disposal in an effort to locate Ms. Dyer.”

Police have been trying to piece together the clues of the missing principal’s disappearance, ABC 7 reported.

“Somerset Police have spoken with her family and have requested financial information from the family in an effort to track her down.

“Colleagues had a lengthy conversation with her at home on Tuesday night.

“She previously said to her sister that she was busy getting ready for the new school year but did complain that she had a headache.”

There are other signs that Dyer’s disappearance was rather sudden. NJ 101.5 reported that the lights and television were left on inside Dyer’s townhouse in Somerset. Police have reportedly searched Dyer’s financial records and checked local hospitals in an attempt to find her.

Police are now turning to the public for help in the search for Bertha Dyer, asking for local residents to be on the lookout for any signs of the principal or her missing vehicle.

News of Bertha Dyer’s disappearance has also spread on social media, with many people sharing information about her and the circumstances of her going missing this week.

But the search for Bertha Dyer is growing more urgent as the days stretch on. Her school district is slated to have its first day of classes on September 6, and it is unclear how the district will proceed with her elementary school.

Dyer’s disappearance comes just one week after another search for a missing educator ended in tragedy. In North Carolina, authorities found the body of 25-year-old teacher Krishawn Jamar Noble in Kernersville Lake days after he went missing.

Police were notified after Noble failed to show up for his first day of work as a teacher at East Forsyth Middle School, Fox 8 reported. Police learned that he had rented a boat on the lake, but the boat was later found resting on the lake’s shore with Noble nowhere to be found.

After some of Noble’s belongings were found, including his car, police launched a search both of the lake and the surrounding areas, Fox 8 reported. It was ultimately Noble’s family members searching the lake in paddleboats who found his body floating in the water and brought him to shore.

Noble’s death prompted many to leave condolences online, mourning the young teacher’s death and praising his dedication to teaching children.

Anyone with information about the disappearance of Bertha Dyer is asked to call Franklin police at 732-873-2300.

[Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images]

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