A Marietta community is gripped by worry and urgency after 13-year-old Dereona Varner went missing on the afternoon of April 6, 2026.
Dereona was last seen leaving 16 Ridge Run on Franklin Gateway around 1:00 p.m.
Her sudden disappearance has left family, friends, and neighbors searching for answers and hoping for her safe return.
Authorities describe Dereona as approximately 5 feet tall and weighing around 120 pounds.
She was reported to be wearing a blue Tupac jacket, blue jeans, black shoes, and a pink hair bonnet at the time she was last seen.
Parents, siblings, and loved ones are understandably distressed.
They have been working alongside the Marietta Police Department to spread awareness and gather any information that could help locate her.
The Marietta Police Department has urged anyone with knowledge of her whereabouts to come forward immediately.
Tips can be submitted by phone or through the department’s anonymous tip feature on their app.
Even the smallest detail—where she was last seen, who she spoke to, or any unusual activity—could prove crucial in bringing her home safely.
Neighbors have described the area around Ridge Run and Franklin Gateway as typically quiet, making her sudden disappearance all the more alarming.
Parents in the area have voiced deep concern, reflecting on how quickly a child can go missing even in familiar surroundings.
Authorities are mobilizing resources to search the surrounding neighborhoods, reviewing nearby surveillance footage, and coordinating with community volunteers.
Social media posts have begun circulating, encouraging residents to stay vigilant and report any sightings or tips.
Schools and local organizations are also being notified to help spread awareness and ensure that anyone with relevant information knows how to contact authorities.
The emotional toll on Dereona’s family is immense.
Each passing hour without information increases anxiety, uncertainty, and fear for their child’s safety.
Community members have rallied in support, sharing posts, distributing flyers, and organizing search efforts, demonstrating the collective care and concern for a missing child.
The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated.
Authorities emphasize that children, even in their early teens, are vulnerable, and prompt action is critical to locating them safely.
Parents are encouraged to talk to their own children about safety, awareness, and the importance of communicating when plans change unexpectedly.
Dereona’s disappearance is a stark reminder of how quickly life can change and how families rely on both community vigilance and law enforcement to protect their children.
The Marietta Police Department continues to coordinate the search, ensuring that all available personnel and resources are dedicated to finding Dereona.
Residents are asked to remain alert, observe their surroundings, and contact authorities immediately if they see a child matching her description.
Schools in the area have also been briefed to monitor for any signs or reports from students who might have seen or interacted with Dereona.
Each report, each sighting, and each tip could be a vital piece of information to help bring her home safely.
The Marietta community is being called to unite in hope and action, emphasizing that even one attentive observer can make a difference.
As the search continues, messages of support have flooded in from both neighbors and local leaders.
Many are praying for Dereona’s safety and encouraging the public to act quickly if they have any information.
Families across the area are reminded to review their own safety practices, ensure children are aware of safe routes, and communicate openly with them about their whereabouts.
The department has assured the public that they are following every lead and taking the situation with the utmost seriousness.
Community members are urged not to spread unverified information but to direct any tips directly to law enforcement.
Dereona’s family remains hopeful that someone will recognize her description and provide the information necessary for her safe return.
Her pink hair bonnet, blue Tupac jacket, and black shoes are small yet important details that may help people identify her.
The Marietta Police Department is appealing to the public to share the alert widely, ensuring as many eyes as possible are on the lookout.
In situations like this, community vigilance, rapid reporting, and coordinated law enforcement efforts are essential.
Every tip counts.
Every observation matters.
The safe return of Dereona Varner depends on public awareness and immediate action.
Authorities and her family plead with anyone who may have seen her, or who has any knowledge of her whereabouts, to come forward without delay.
The community stands united, hoping that this alert will lead to her safe recovery and bring a young life back to the safety of home and loved ones.