Missing Florida Teen Sophia Cover Found Safe in New Jersey After 11-Day Search

NEW JERSEY — A Florida family’s desperate search for 16-year-old Sophia Cover has ended with the news they had been praying for: the teenager has been found safe more than 1,200 miles from her home.

Sophia was discovered in New Jersey after being missing for 11 days, according to her father, Rick Cover. He said the FBI located his daughter while she was staying with friends, bringing an emotional end to a nationwide search that had involved law enforcement officers, relatives and thousands of members of the public.

Father Shares Emotional Update

Cover announced the news on Facebook, expressing enormous relief after days of uncertainty.

He thanked investigators, particularly the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and Detective Marisol Rodriguez, as well as community members who shared Sophia’s photograph, distributed flyers and provided information during the search.

The father said he is preparing to travel to New Jersey to reunite with his daughter.

He told local media that the family is still waiting for additional information from Florida’s Department of Children and Families regarding what happened during Sophia’s disappearance and when she will be able to return home.

Teen Had Vanished From Florida Home

Sophia disappeared from her family’s home in Golden Gate Estates, Florida, during the early morning hours of July 31.

Security footage showed her leaving the residence at approximately 12:45 a.m. with a bag. Her father later discovered she was missing and began a widespread effort to find her.

At the time, Cover said he did not believe his daughter had simply decided to run away. He had also expressed concern that someone might have persuaded or coerced her into leaving under false pretenses.

Her disappearance prompted a multi-agency investigation and an extensive community search.

Family Had Been Desperate for Answers

During the search, Cover repeatedly appealed directly to his daughter, telling her that she could safely approach a police officer or another trusted adult if she was frightened or unsure about returning home.

Other family members also publicly pleaded for Sophia to come home, including her great-grandmother, who posted an emotional video asking the teenager to return.

The family’s campaign spread widely online, with supporters sharing Sophia’s photograph and information in hopes of generating a lead.

Many Questions Remain

Although Sophia has been located safely, important questions surrounding her disappearance remain unanswered.

Her father said the family still wants to understand how she traveled from Florida to New Jersey and what happened during the 11 days she was away.

Authorities have not publicly released a detailed account of her movements or explained why she was staying with friends in New Jersey.

For now, however, the family’s primary concern is no longer finding Sophia — it is bringing her home and making sure she receives the support she needs after the ordeal.

After nearly two weeks of fear and uncertainty, Rick Cover said the family can finally say the words they had been waiting to hear: Sophia has been found, and she is safe.