A 26-year-old New Jersey woman has mysteriously disappeared after a routine trip to her local coffee shop, her cellphone and laptop left behind in an office building about three miles away, police and family say.
Tammy Kim, who has no history of running away, was last seen near the Starbucks on Highway 23 in Franklin Borough at about 10 a.m. Thursday, according to police.
The Starbucks cafe was a favorite hangout for Kim, and she often worked on her computer there. Kim, who does not drive, was supposed to be picked up by her parents at around noon last Thursday, her mother told NBC 4 New York Monday.
Surveillance images show her apparently walking to a couple of nearby businesses, eventually making a three-mile journey south along Route 23.
Her laptop was found abandoned near the Sussex Bank corporate offices -- a mostly empty office building -- on Munsonhurst Road, police said. On the second floor of the building, in a room that's under renovation, police tracked her phone about 12 hours after she disappeared.
That's all they found, according to Franklin Borough Police Det. Nevin Mattessich. There was no sign of Kim or any kind of foul play.
Because Kim does not drive, two scenarios are dominating the list of possibilities, according to police: She suffered from some sort of medical episode and wandered into the woods in a rural area nearby, or she got into a car with somone.
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But both are out of character for the aspiring teacher and artist, according to her family, who's now appealing to the public for help.
Her mother, Christine Kim, told NBC 4 her daughter is "an intelligent and hard-working and highly educated professional with many talents and a bright future."
Tammy has been "suffering from many health issues and side effects of the medications," her worried mother said.
"She is just sick and lost, and could be injured somewhere in need of being found," said Christine Kim.
Police say Tammy, who has a masters degree in fine art, has friends in New York City and Asbury Park, and that's where they're hoping people will see photos of her and contact police with any information.
She was last seen wearing a brown tee shirt and carrying a purse with the cartoon character Felix the Cat on it.
Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call the Franklin police at 973-827-7700.
