Suicide Notes Left by Two Missing Teens

1:50 p.m. UPDATE: Emergency crews have left the riverside staging area off Race Street in Catasauqua but there is no word from officials as to whether the search is continuing elsewhere.

CATASAUQUA - Search crews are combing the banks of the Lehigh River between Hokendauqua, Catasauqua and Allentown looking for signs of a teen couple reported missing around 11 p.m. Thursday.

Mariah Lopez of 620 Third St., Catasauqua and Warren Houtling of 1025 Second St., North Catasauqua each left a suicide note in their home, according to Catasauqua Police Chief Douglas Kish.

"We have reason to believe they may want to harm themselves," Kish said. "We're hoping to find them safe. As with any incident like this we don't want it to turn into a tragedy."

Kish said efforts to contact the teens via their cell phones have been unsuccessful.

Emergency crews are staging at the Catasauqua Wastewater Treatment Plant by the Race Street Bridge. Crews are also searching the riverside at the Pine Street Bridge and bridges in Hokendauqua and Coplay.

Kish issued a plea for the teens to contact authorities and "let us know they're alright."

"We have a lot of resources tied up here," he added.

About 30 people are involved in the search so far. They include members of the Northampton, Whitehall, Catasuqua and Allentown fire departments, as well as Allentown EMS and Lehigh County technical crews.

Kish said as of about 10 a.m. no sign of the missing teens has been found in the search area. He said it's up to dive crews as to if or when they'll venture into the rain-swollen  Lehigh River.

"Let's search the banks before we put people in danger," he said.

Anyone with information on the missing teens is asked to call 610-437-5252.