NYC Spanish Teacher Hannah Upp Goes Missing

Since the disappearance of 23-year-old Spanish teacher Hannah Upp, police in New York City have been working around the clock to find her.

In a phone interview with Hannah's brother, Dan Upp, he expressed to AMW that he is, "highly impressed with the time and energy the NYPD has put into the case."

As a result of their investigation, Hannah was positively identified at the Apple Store in New York City on Monday, Sept. 9, 2008. Although she was spotted alive, police say the case is still ongoing.

Due to the nature of the case, Dan was unable to release the name of the source who spotted Hannah.

"She is in just as much danger as she was the day she went missing," he said.

Hannah's Belongings Found In Home

Hannah was last seen in her Manhattan apartment at 2 p.m. on Friday, August 29, 2008.

According to her roommates, Manny and Sam, she was planning a weekend getaway to Pennsylvania and intended to come back on Saturday. When Hannah didn't return to her apartment that Sunday afternoon, her roommates say they tried calling her cell phone, only to get her voicemail.

By Monday evening, Manny and Sam were frantic and searched her room. That's where they say they found Hannah's purse containing her cell phone, wallet, keys, and passport. Panicked, they called the police.

Authorities filed a missing person's report for Hannah the next Tuesday when, for the second time, Hannah failed to show up for work at the Thurgood Marshall Academy.

Friends And Family Desperate for Clues

When the news spread that she was missing, a network of friends and family -- including volunteers from her alma mater, Bryn Mawr College -- converged on the area to distribute flyers and search for their missing friend.

Hannah's parents also joined in the search to find their daughter. Through their own investigation, they learned that Hannah had last used her debit card at a movie theater near Times Square that Friday, but the card was later found in her purse.

Authorities are also looking for more clues on Hannah's computer to try to determine if she left on her own or if a crime was committed.

"This is not a runaway case," Dan said. "She is still missing." 

The NYPD agrees, and they are asking the public to continue to locate Hannah.

Dan asks that if Hannah is reading this now he wants her to know  that "her family loves her and they want her to come home--no questions asked."

-- by Shelaney Campbell, AMW Staff

Missing Spanish Teacher Hannah Upp Rescued