ONEONTA _ A private investigator hired by the family of a Hungarian exchange student who dropped out of Oneonta High School in June said the 19-year-old may have been forced into prostitution.
Augustine Papay Jr., a retired New York City homicide detective, was in Oneonta late last week as part of his investigation into the disappearance of Natalia Timar.
"I am aware that she got involved in a bad crowd and may have befriended some criminal elements because she was naive and a trusting-type person," Papay said in a news release to The Daily Star.
"However, I have reason to believe that Ms. Natalia Timar may be an endangered missing person."
Timar, her passport, plane ticket back to Hungary and other belongings were found missing from her host family's home in Oneonta on June 2, according to Tom Overbaugh, vice chairman of the Youth Exchange Program of Rotary District 7170, which includes the Oneonta Rotary Club.
State police launched an investigation but later concluded there was no foul play involved, Overbaugh previously said.
But in Papay's release, the investigator said that although it was initially believed Timar's disappearance was voluntary, there is circumstantial evidence to suggest that she may be held against her will and was forced into prostitution in New York City by people involved in the sex trade.
"She was an ideal poster child for them and I believe that her movements and communications are now being restricted and she is being held against her will," Papay said.
Papay said he shared this evidence with the state police and FBI, but he did not disclose it to The Daily Star.
Timar's family has offered a $1,000 reward for information that leads to her whereabouts, he said.
"Natalia has not contacted her parents in the past three months and the family is devastated ever since they lost contact with her," Papay said. "Her mother is suffering from lung cancer and she hopes that someone will come forward with new information regarding the whereabouts of her youngest daughter."
Timar's birthday was Saturday, according to missing person posters posted around Oneonta last week.
Papay said he can be contacted at (866) 533-5099 or through e-mail at guspapay@gmail.com. All information submitted will be handled as confidential, he said.
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