Left and Center: Equilla circa, 1985
Right: Age Progressed to age 42
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: August 12, 1985
Missing From: Bronx, New York City, New York
Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Date Of Birth: August 19, 1976
Age: 8 years old
Height and Weight: 4’11” and 80 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: African American Female, Brown hair, Hazel eyes, Equilla has scars near her right eye and on her cheek, she has discolorations on her lower back and buttocks, Equilla had a gap between her upper front teeth, her ears are pierced, she wears eyeglasses
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A white tank top with red/yellow markings, a pair of cut off blue jeans, and light blue sneakers
NCMEC Number: 601724
Details of Disappearance
Equilla Lynn Hodrick was last seen on Bronx, New York on August 12th 1985. She was sitting with her mother on their front porch on Briggs Avenue. Her mother turned around to talk to friends at approximately 6:30 pm and when she turned back she saw that Equilla was running toward a Mr Softee ice cream truck that was parked at the corner of Briggs Avenue and 194th Street.
Her mother could not chase after her because she was 8 months pregnant at the time. She was not worried because Equilla was street smart and usually returned home quickly. Equilla was last seen by a cousin while she was playing games at a arcade on the corner later that evening.
Equilla never returned home and was never seen again. Her mother became concerned and called authorities. An extensive search using bloodhounds was undertaken. Bloodhounds traced Equilla’s scent to Webster Avenue near the railroad tracks. No other trace of the child was found.
Equilla’s mother believes that Equilla is alive but the detective who worked the case stated that Equilla was likely deceased as she knew her own phone number and would’ve called her mother if she was still alive.
Equilla’s case remains unsolved. Authorities suspect that she was abducted by a non family member and may have been killed.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
New York City Police Department 646-610-6914
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children