Missing girl may be with man, 41

Vicki Waterhouse | 11th July 2008

Fears are mounting for the welfare of Mount Maunganui College student Julie Davis, who disappeared a week ago.

The 14-year-old, who lives in Mount Maunganui, was last seen at 3.45pm on Friday last week by some school friends walking along Topaz Drive in Papamoa.

Detective Peter Sweeney said police believe Julie is with 41-year-old Craig Howard, from Waingaro in the Waikato.

The two are not related and police and her family are "deeply uncomfortable" with their relationship, Mr Sweeney said.

The two met while Julie was on holiday with her family.

"They are no family relation to each other, he's not even a friend of the family," Mr Sweeney said.

"He's somebody that she met a few months ago. He was working at the place where she was on holiday."

The two had been meeting since the holiday encounter.

"There's nothing to suggest anything other than just friendship," Mr Sweeney said.

"We're not comfortable with the friendship they've had, and her family became aware of this friendship and they weren't comfortable about it either. I'm concerned for her welfare."

Mr Sweeney said that while Julie had not been taken against her will, she had technically been abducted if what is believed to have happened is true.

"There's nothing in [Mr Howard's] history that makes me think that she's in danger. Her mum wants her back, she's 14 and she shouldn't be with a 41-year-old who is not a member of the family. Her mum is desperate for her to come home."

If you know where Craig Howard or Julie Davis are, contact Tauranga police on 577-4300.

Julie Davis was last seen wearing a red top and grey skirt (Mount Maunganui College uniform).

Craig Howard, also known as Andrew Kara, is Maori, 175cm tall and of medium build. He is believed to speak with a slight lisp and is known to drive a grey 1989 Subaru Legacy station wagon, registration UE4661. He is believed to be in the Coromandel, Waikato or Bay of Plenty area.