Port Washington Father Pleads for Return of Missing 16-Year-Old Elize

Elize "Ellie" Avazis, a 16-year-old from Port Washington, disappeared after taking the Long Island Rail Road to Manhattan on Jan. 20 with another teen. The companion returned to Port Washington, but Avazis did not, prompting a public plea from her father and a wider community search that has stretched across Queens and western Nassau County.

Family posts and leads circulated online indicate Avazis visited an apartment in Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan and later surfaced in Auburndale, Queens, where she attempted to rent a room but was not located. The last confirmed sighting reported by the family was near the Merillon Avenue station in New Hyde Park on Friday night. Investigators say Avazis left her phone behind, complicating efforts to trace her movements through device location data. Port Washington Police and private investigators are actively following up tips and reviewing surveillance footage along the Port Washington Branch and at key transit hubs.

The case has immediate resonance for Port Washington residents who rely on the LIRR for daily commutes. The Port Washington Branch is a central artery for school-aged commuters and workers, and a missing-teen case that spans suburban and urban neighborhoods raises questions about safety protocols on trains and at stations. Local parents and high-school networks have mobilized to share information, comb social media leads, and check security cameras near stations and along common walking routes.

Law enforcement has asked the public to come forward with any information that could help locate Avazis. The Port Washington Police Department requests that anyone with knowledge contact investigators at 516-883-0500. Private investigators hired by the family are assisting in canvassing neighborhoods and reviewing transit and apartment-building footage. No arrests or charges have been announced.

The search highlights broader community concerns about teenage safety, transit vigilance, and how quickly a missing-person case can move across municipal boundaries. For local officials and school administrators, the incident could prompt renewed attention to communication protocols for students traveling without guardians and to coordination with the LIRR on station security and video retention policies.

For now, Port Washington residents can help by checking their home and business security cameras for suspicious activity on Jan. 20 and by sharing verified tips with police. The family's appeal underscores the urgency: a neighborhood searching for one of its own. Expect further updates as investigators review footage and leads, and as authorities determine whether additional measures are needed to improve youth safety on regional transit routes.