Pregnant 12 Year Old Missing

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — The search is getting more urgent for two missing sisters from Mooresville.

One of the girls is pregnant and needs medical attention, according to her mother.

The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office says Keara and Sierra Hess have been missing since Wednesday.

The girls, who are 12 and 11, are believed to be with their adoptive father, Matthew Hess.

“We hope when we find them we get a lot of questions answered,” said Lt. Julie Gibson with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Department.

Investigators say Hess left his estranged wife a note saying that he was taking Sierra to Lakeshore Middle School. The wife became suspicious when 12-year-old Keara didn’t make it to her doctor’s appointment.

“Since Thursday it’s been hell,” said Jeanette Hess, the girls’ mother. Keara is 8 1/2 months pregnant and needs a medical procedure to protect her child.

“There are some things we’ve heard from her physician that makes us very concerned. The baby needs medical attention right away,” said Gibson.

Hess and his two girls haven’t been seen since last Wednesday night.

“He didn’t pack to stay away for an extended period of time,” Gibson said. “He’s the girls’ legal father.”

This story has attracted national attention. Deputies are thankful for that because time may be running out for Keara’s baby. Phone calls have come in from all over the East Coast.

“Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Stokes County, N.C., Wadesboro — so we really don’t have much of a direction. We’re just trying to blanket as much as we can,” Gibson said.

It has been an emotional week for the mother of the girls.

“Please, please just drop them off. I just want the girls OK,” Jeanette Hess said.

Investigators think Matthew Hess may be driving a brown or tan 1993 Ford Explorer with North Carolina license plate YTE-8014. The back right passenger window is broken out and is covered with Plexiglass, which is duct-taped in place.

Anyone who sees Hess or the girls should call the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office at 704-878-3100.