Hempstead police seek missing 14-year-old Daniela Martinez, later found safe

Nassau County police asked for help locating 14-year-old Daniela Martinez after she disappeared from her Hempstead home, then later confirmed the missing juvenile had been found safe.

The Nassau County Police Department’s Missing Persons Squad said the case began Sunday, April 12, 2026, at about 2 a.m. in Hempstead and was reported to police at 3:15 a.m. that same morning. Detectives said Martinez was last seen at her Hempstead residence. Police described her as a female Hispanic, 5-foot-2 and about 120 pounds, with dark-colored hair and brown eyes.

Investigators said they did not have a clothing description or a destination. During the search, the department urged anyone with information to call the Nassau County Police Department Missing Persons Squad at 516-573-7347 or 911, and said callers could remain anonymous.

Police later posted an update saying the missing juvenile had been located. No further details were immediately provided about where she had been found or the circumstances of her disappearance.

Cases involving missing children move quickly because early hours can shape the outcome. In New York, the Missing Persons Clearinghouse provides investigative support to law enforcement and help to left-behind family members in cases involving children, college students and vulnerable adults. The FBI also maintains a national kidnappings and missing persons portal that law enforcement can use in cases like this one.

For Hempstead families, the case was a reminder of how fast an overnight disappearance can become a full-scale police search. The department’s quick appeal for public help and its later confirmation that Martinez had been located closed the immediate alert, but it also underscored how closely local police and state and federal systems work together when a child goes missing.