RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Since Sunday morning, neighbors and friends said they’ve continued to search, hand out hundreds of fliers, and reach out on social media.
“I just miss my friend, and I hope she’s OK,” said Megan Aiken with teary eyes while handing out fliers near a business off of Six Forks Road Tuesday night.
Aiken said several people are searching for 48-year-old Priti Mehta who was last seen on foot at the Shellbrook Apartments.
Neighbors and close friends of Priti Mehta said it’s been part of the ongoing efforts since the 48-year-old’s disappearance Sunday morning.
Aiken said the two first became close friends after they attended Virginia Tech together years ago. She said Mehta worked from home and moved to Raleigh four years ago. Aiken described her as an animal lover.
“She was a dog lover, had two pets, and often walked them around Shelly Lake. She knew a lot of the people in the community through that,” explained Aiken.
Aiken said she learned Mehta was missing by Sunday afternoon and had stayed at a neighbor’s apartment.
“One of her neighbors found our friend online from college, and then she reached out to me because she knew I was local,” said Aiken. Aiken explained that Mehta did not have family living nearby. She added, “As soon as we found out, we started to search in the area.”
That neighbor, Jennifer Caslin, said Mehta had come to her for help. She said she felt concerned for Mehta after she recently lost her dog, Violet, a rescue who died at the age of 14.
“She approached me Saturday night and told me she felt unsafe and asked if she could stay with me. Of course, I let her and her dog Shanti come over,” said Caslin. Sunday around 5:30 a.m., Caslin said she heard Mehta open her apartment door and leave without her dog, phone or vehicle. Caslin said she never returned.
“It was so cold that morning that I just was very worried about her, plus her state of mind the day before,” said Caslin.
Both Caslin and Aiken said Raleigh police searched around the apartment complex, around Shelly Lake, and some of the local hospitals. She said others have stepped in to help.
“We started posting online in the next hour. We contacted our apartment complex so they could send out an email to all the residents. We just tried to immediately spread the word as much as possible,” said Caslin, worried about her neighbor’s safety.
Aiken added, “I know her family feels the same. They’re really concerned about her. I’m in regular touch with them. So just looking for any tips or hints on where she might have gone.”
Raleigh police said Mehta’s disappearance remains an active investigation. Friends and family are hopeful that anyone who knows any additional information reach out to police.