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Authorities in Chesapeake and the surrounding Hampton Roads community are urgently seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing 16-year-old girl, Nia Imani Dameron, who was reported missing earlier this week. The teenager’s disappearance has prompted a coordinated search involving local law enforcement, missing persons units, and concerned community members working around the clock to bring her home safely.
Nia was last seen on January 6, 2026, in the Chesapeake area. According to the Virginia Missing Children Clearinghouse, part of the statewide effort to track missing juveniles, she was last observed wearing a black hoodie and black pants at the time of her disappearance.
Her family reported her missing to local police when she did not return home or make contact, sparking immediate concern.
Officers from the Chesapeake Police Department, along with regional partners, have been canvassing neighborhoods, reviewing surveillance footage, and interviewing friends, relatives, and potential witnesses in hopes of locating the teen.
Police have not released additional details about the circumstances leading up to her disappearance but are urging anyone with information to come forward.
“This is every parent’s worst nightmare,” said one local resident who has joined neighbors in spreading awareness of Nia’s disappearance on social media and through community bulletin boards. “We’re all praying for her safe return.”
Authorities have emphasized that time is critical in missing child cases and are asking residents to check any security cameras, dashcams, or doorbell footage from the area where Nia was last seen.
They also recommend reviewing any recent interactions the teenager may have had online or with friends, which could provide clues to her whereabouts.
The Chesapeake Police Department has not confirmed whether an Amber Alert has been issued at this time. Under Virginia state guidelines, Amber Alerts are typically activated when law enforcement believes a child has been abducted, is in imminent danger of serious bodily harm, and there is enough specific information about the child or a suspect to rapidly disseminate to the public.
Missing person cases involving juveniles are taken very seriously in Virginia. The Virginia State Police oversees the central missing persons clearinghouse and works closely with local agencies, such as Chesapeake police, to ensure all cases are swiftly entered into national databases like the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and shared broadly with law enforcement across the country.
Community members have rallied behind Nia’s family, sharing information and spreading her description across social platforms. Dozens of residents in Chesapeake and nearby communities have posted flyers and shared digital alerts in hopes of increasing visibility.
“We want everyone looking out for each other neighbors, schools, local businesses,” another resident said. “Maybe someone saw something.”
Officials reiterate that even the smallest bit of information can prove crucial in locating a missing child. Anyone who believes they have seen Nia or has any relevant details is urged to contact the Chesapeake Police Departmentimmediately at their non-emergency number or dial 911 if there is an urgent sighting. Police also encourage tips to be submitted through local law enforcement tip lines or via the Virginia State Police Missing Children Clearinghouse.
As of now, Nia’s case remains active and open, and authorities say they will continue the search until she is found and safely reunited with her family. The community’s collective hope rests on a speedy resolution to this frightening and emotional ordeal.
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