Wilde Lake High School students hoping for safe return of missing teacher Laura Wallen
COLUMBIA, Md. - After being missing for over a week, there is still no sign of a pregnant high school teacher from Montgomery County.
Laura Wallen was reported missing to Montgomery County police after her family said they last heard from her through a text message on Labor Day. Police would not fully describe what the text message said, but they described it as troubling.
Her car was located last Thursday parked at an apartment complex in the 10600 block of Gramercy Place, which is located only a few minutes away from the high school she teaches at in Columbia.
Wallen's family has come forward with a $25,000 reward in an effort to help find the 31-year-old Olney woman, who is around four months pregnant.
On Tuesday, Montgomery County police said the investigation is still ongoing, but there were no new details to report.
Since her disappearance, Wallen has not showed up at Wilde Lake High School where she is a social studies teacher. After a week of classes, many of her students are hoping for her return.
"We are just praying that she comes back," said student Chris Kiefer. "She is a great teacher. I had her last year. Hopefully she comes back safe and sound."
"She is always there for her students," said Matthew Schluch. "She is an amazing teacher."
Students told FOX 5 they have not heard much from Wilde Lake administrators since it was first announced Wallen was missing.
"The first day, they just kind of said there was a teacher missing," said Kiefer. "Not so much from them right now."
Current and former Wilde Lake students have been mobilizing search efforts online by creating the hashtag #BringWallenHome to share the latest information about Wallen. They have even organized search groups on the ground to post missing flyers.
As Wallen's family announced the $25,000 reward on Monday, Tyler Tessier, Wallen's boyfriend and the father of her unborn child, made a plea for her safe return.
"Laura, if you are listening, it doesn't matter what's happened, it doesn't matter what type of trouble, there is nothing we can't fix together - myself and your family," Tessier said. "There are so many people, so many people that miss you, so many people who were out, who haven't slept. We haven't eaten. We are just looking or praying that you are safe."