In a deeply concerning series of events, 15-year-old Tyla Parham was reported missing from Paramus, New Jersey, on May 25, 2026. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance began to unfold on May 23, 2026, when Tyla left her residence with plans to stay at a friend's house. The following day, May 24, Tyla's father went to pick her up, but the friend's father informed him that both girls were asleep and suggested Tyla could stay for another night.
This seemingly ordinary arrangement took a distressing turn when Tyla's father, having had no contact with his daughter, returned to the friend's home on May 25, only to discover that both Tyla and her friend were missing. It was then revealed that the two teenagers had been dropped off at the Garden State Plaza at approximately 1:00 PM that day.
Further details that emerged painted a more confusing picture of the girls' last known activities. At 7:33 PM on the evening of May 25, the friend's father received a text message from his daughter's phone. The message claimed that a different family member of Tyla's was going to pick them up and that they would be home shortly. However, this communication proved to be the last, as the friend's phone was subsequently turned off, and no further contact was made. Investigations by the Paramus Police Department later uncovered surveillance footage showing Tyla and her friend leaving the Garden State Plaza at 5:40 PM and boarding a bus that provides shuttle service to Paterson, New Jersey. Tyla is described as a Black / African American female, standing at 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing around 175 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes, and a distinctive white gemstone nose piercing in her left nostril.
The Dumont Police Department is listed as the investigating agency for this case. The initial report was filed on May 26, 2026. Information provided by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children suggests that Tyla may still be in the local area. The case of Tyla Parham's disappearance is a troubling one, marked by a series of events that transitioned from a typical teenage sleepover to a serious missing persons investigation. The final text message and the subsequent confirmed sighting of the girls boarding a bus to Paterson are critical pieces of a puzzle that authorities are working to solve. The lack of communication since that evening remains a primary source of concern for her family and the investigators dedicated to bringing her home safely.Last Seen: May 25, 2026
