Missing 12-Year-Old Maria Gomez Perez: Search and Rescue Efforts in Gainesville, GA

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GAINESVILLE, Ga – Missing and endangered, Maria Gomez Perez, 12-years-old, was last seen around 10:00 a.m. on May 29, 2024 at her Gainesville home on West Side Drive off Pearl Parkway. Sherriff Gerald Couch of the Hall County Sheriff’s Office believes it’s possible that she may have come in contact with someone to leave that day from her house. “Identifying that person,” says Couch, “and trying to find who they are and where they went, there’s the key” to breaking open this case.

Maria is 5’3” and weighs around 100 – 110 lbs. She has brown eyes and long black hair. It is believed that she was wearing a blue shirt when she went missing but no other details are available on her clothing. Originally from Guatemala, Maria is Spanish Speaking.

Sheriff Couch held a news conference on June 11, 2024 to update the community on the status of the case and what is being done to bring Maria home. “Maria deserves all the help that can be provided,” Couch told the public. There are many people involved in the case from the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, the 4^th largest in Georgia, including personnel from Crimes Against Persons, Crimes Scene Unit, and Special Persons.

Other law enforcement agencies have offered their assistance and Couch “welcomed them to our investigation with gratefulness.” Currently Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, and the Consultant General of Guatemala in Atlanta are all assisting with the case. In total, there are roughly 70 investigators on the case. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) have also been contacted and are helping to get information about Maria’s case out to the public.

All of the occupants of her home have been interviewed, with the assistance of the Guatemala Consulate, and cell phones have been collected. Investigators have made several trips to their residence, done a search, and collected forensic evidence. The neighborhood has also been canvased. Interviews have been conducted with school officials, Maria’s friends, social media friends, and neighbors.

In addition, targeted ground searches with the use of K-9s and drones have been conducted and there was a search of Lake Ranier. The FBI, GBI, and Homeland Security have done social media searches, and all known video footage has been downloaded and reviewed. Anyone with video that is not yet known about are asked to contact law enforcement.

Appreciation is felt for the community’s willingness and desire to help in bringing Maria home. Couch’s message for the community is that “what we need most is for you to continue to spread the word and share accurate information about the investigation and contact avenues for tips. Someone out in the community has that one bit of information that is valuable to us, but they need to come forward.”

“First and foremost, let us remember Maria and the folks working diligently to bring her home in your thoughts and prayers,” requested Couch. There is a $30,000 reward for Maria’s safe return home. Anyone with information about this case are asked to reach out through one of the avenues listed below, remembering that all callers may remain anonymous.