What happened to Abby Hernandez?

NORTH CONWAY, NH (MyFoxBoston.com) – The search for a missing teen prompted a N.H. community to ban together, and through social networks and media coverage made a 15-year-old from North Conway a household name in New England. Abby Hernandez was missing for 9 months; and while everyone involved is grateful that she's home, some are questioning where she's been.

Abby returned Sunday without an explanation of where she was for more than half of a year. Officials turned to the public several times over the last 9 months asking for help in finding Abby, desperate for any lead. Does that warrant an explanation for concerned members of the public who were invested in her case?

Will we ever find out what happened to Abby Hernandez?

What we know is that on Oct. 9, 2013 she left Kennett High School in Conway around 2:30 p.m. She then walked along Eagles Way and was last seen taking a short cut through a power line trail. That day, Abby was carrying a gray shoulder bag and wearing a gray sweatshirt with colored stripes paired with black yoga pants.

The case was treated as a missing person investigation from the start; authorities were searching by air, water and land for the girl, according to N.H. Senior Assistant District Attorney Jane Young. There was even a check point set up near the teen's high school to question drivers.

Investigators said early on that there was no evidence of abduction. Yet there was a $20,000 reward offered, which was eventually increased to $60,000 after a donation from Abby's father. FOX 25's Bob Ward talked to the ranking FBI agent working the case, Kieran Ramsey, who does not believe that she willingly left.

"This is a 14-, now 15-year-old girl that had a lively social media presence, that was very actively engaged in talking to her mom, classmates, and her friends and everything stops at 3:07 that afternoon. To think she willingly left, on her own, and has stayed dark since then is an extensive commitment on the part of a 15-year-old girl," Ramsey said.

Abby was only gone two days when Young first reached out to the public asking for help putting together a timeline to help locate the teen.

After six weeks had passed, Young spoke at a news conference and announced that Abby’s mother, Zenya, received a letter from the teen after she disappeared, but didn’t disclose much information about it. Officials also released two photos that day, one of a necklace and another of a purse that Abby was believed to be in possession of.

Shortly after the conference, Zenya was in the FOX 25 studio to talk to our Maria Stephanos and asked the public for help.

Throughout the first six months of 2014, Zenya and police continued to periodically ask the public for help in finding Abby. Zenya even advertised an interactive map posted on the website created for the teen called Bring Abby Home.

Abby finally returned home Sunday, July 20. Despite the lack of an explanation of where this 15-year-old has been, the public was asked to become involved once again and call N.H. State Police with any information. Specifically, investigators are looking for the man Abby says drove her away. They released a sketch of the man who was reportedly driving a navy blue pick-up truck and is described as slightly overweight with a large build, "darkish" skin, dark brown eyes and black stubble on his face.

They are also interested in anyone who may have seen a girl in the area of North South Road on Sunday night between 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. At that time, Abby was reportedly on her way home carrying a gray shoulder bag and wearing a long-sleeve gray sweater with colorful stripes paired with black pants. It is apparently the same outfit she wore the day she was last seen before disappearing.

Abby's family released a statement Friday night thanking everyone who helped with the teen's case and noting that her health has "deteriorated" and she's lost weight.

Young declined to comment on Abby's degree of cooperation in the investigation; however, the family said in their statement that they are still working with authorities. The investigation remains ongoing and police are trying to determine whether the man in the sketch, or anyone else, enticed Abby in any way or took her against her will.

Cox Media Group