Moreno Valley Teen Who Disappeared on Jan. 13 ‘Needs to Be Home,’ Uncle Says

The uncle of a 16-year-old Moreno Valley girl who disappeared 10 days ago says his niece is a “sweet, bubbly person” and “needs to be home.” Matthew Horstkotte spoke Wednesday amid the ongoing search for his niece Aranda Briones, who was last seen on Jan. 13. Family members say Briones spent that Sunday with a male friend she knew from school, but she hasn’t been seen or heard from since. Horstkotte said it’s especially worrying since she’s usually active on social media and always communicates with her phone. The friend told police he dropped Briones off at Moreno Valley Community Park, located at 13380 Frederick St., sometime between 6 and 6:30 p.m. However, despite there being several surveillance cameras in the park, investigators say they have yet to find any signs Briones was ever there. “They pulled footage, and they don’t know if the time was wrong, but it looks like nobody was dropped off between 6 and 6:30,” her brother, Daniel Briones, told KTLA on Tuesday. The male friend told family members that Aranda Briones got into a gray, four-door sedan when he left her at the park. Daniel Briones told KTLA the family doesn’t know anyone with a car like that. One possible clue came from a female friend, Daniel Briones said. The friend used Snapchat’s map feature and came up with a location in Rubidoux. When the friend texted to ask why she was there, Aranda Briones’ phone turned off, and hasn’t been turned back on since. Family members were meeting up at the Moreno Valley Police Station at 1 p.m. to hand out flyers in hopes that someone will step forward with new information. Just outside the facility, Horstkotte told KTLA their family was still searching. “Just help us find her, please,” he said. Reported sightings have brought both hope and frustration over the past 10 days, Horstkotte previously said. “When it comes down, they say it wasn’t her, it’s just like back to square one,” he said. The Sheriff’s Department was expected to give an update on the investigation later Wednesday, a spokesperson said. Aranda Briones stands 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighs 110 pounds, and has brown hair with hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a white and blue jacket, a dark colored shirt and dark jeans. A Community Tip Line – 951-247-8700 – has been established for anyone with information who could lead investigators to Aranda. The public can also call Moreno Valley police at 951-486-6731.