Novato Helps in Hunt for Developmentally Disabled Runaway

Residents of Novato and Petaluma are praying for the safe return of a 19-year-old developmentally disabled woman who has been missing since Friday.

Elise Hays told her father, Phil Hays of Petaluma, that she was heading to a friend's house around the corner from their home Friday, but Phil Hays later was unable to contact her there, according to Petaluma police Lt. Tim Lyons.

Elise Hays has the mental capacity of a 13-year-old because of a medical condition, police said. She is described as 4-foot-7, weighing 80 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

Phil Hays sent an e-mail to the staff of the church in Novato asking for help, and the church staff sent out a mass e-mail to its congregation Wednesday afternoon.

"I wanted to let you all know that Elise is missing and I would really appreciate your prayer," Phil Hays wrote. "... We have been doing exhaustive searching for her and the police have escalated the outreach to the public."

The Hays family lived in Novato for a long time before relocating last year to Petaluma, said Quest staff member Suzie Steinmetz. The Quest community has responded by posting notices on Facebook about the search for Elise Hays.

"We're just all on the lookout," Steinmetz said. "The more news we can get out, the better."

According to Petaluma police, Elise Hays left her home "in an attempt to be more independent" and has a history of running away. Lyons said Phil Hays was told Friday that his daughter was heading to a lake in Santa Rosa with an acquaintance. Phil Hays contacted police about Elise's disappearance on Monday.

Elise Hays' cell phone signal has been traced to Petaluma locations, Lyons said.

"It seems she is currently avoiding calls from her family," he said.

Meantime, fliers are being distributed and anyone with information about Hays' location is asked to contact Petaluma police at 707-778-4372.