(SBT24/7News) South Bend police seek the public’s help in finding a 14-year-old girl whom they believe ran away from home.

The girl, Juana Vanessa Ontiveros, might be with an 18-year-old male in the South Bend or LaPorte area, police said.

Her family last saw Juana, a student and volleyball player at St. Adalbert’s Catholic School, about 6:30 p.m. Monday, shortly before she planned to leave their home in the 400 block of South Philippa Street for her volleyball game. She never arrived at the game and did not attend school Tuesday or today, her parents said.

“They’re really worried because she hasn’t at least called to say she is OK,” said Maria Ramirez, the family’s neighbor and translator. “Her (3-year-old) sister keeps asking about her and they have to lie and say she’s at school.”

Since her disappearance, Juana’s friends have told her parents that she had recently been exchanging romantic messages with the 18-year-old male on her MySpace Web page.

Any individual older than 18 who is “assisting or harboring this runaway could face criminal prosecution,” police said.

Juana is Hispanic, 5 feet 5 inches tall, with brown eyes and black hair. She was last seen wearing khaki pants and a red fleece sweatshirt with “St. Adalbert’s” printed on it.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the South Bend Police Department, (574) 235-9201.