Valley family seeks help in search for teenage daughter who went missing in Mesa last year

PHOENIX — The family of a 17-year-old girl who went missing in Mesa last year is seeking help in bringing her home.

Madelynn Walko was last seen in Mesa on April 19, 2024. Walko is 5 feet, 4 inches and weighs 120 pounds. She has brown eyes and black hair.

Walko’s father released a message through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) on Saturday, hoping the message would reach her.

“My dearest Maddy, my bird. If you are hearing or seeing this message, I just want you to know how much you are loved and missed by me, Rylee, Rebekkah, your mom and so many others, I couldn’t even list them all,” Walko’s father said. “It brings so much sadness to all of us not to even hear your voice or see your beautiful smiling face and know that you are safe.

My Dearest Maddy, “My Bird,”
If you are hearing or seeing this message, I just want you to know how deeply you are loved and missed by me, Rylee, Rebekkah, your mom, and so many others. I couldn’t even begin to list them all.

It brings us so much sadness not to hear your voice… pic.twitter.com/qXIo1vD5L7

— National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (@NCMEC) April 19, 2025

“If we could just hear your voice and see that beautiful, smiling face and know that you’re OK and safe it would make us all so relieved. We all need you in our lives and want nothing but to be happy and to love you. Please just get ahold of me, we can and we will work through anything to have you back in our lives. We all love you and miss you so much.”

More details on missing Valley teenager

Authorities believe Walko could still be in Mesa or another city within Arizona, according to the NCMEC. 

Those with information on Walko’s whereabouts are encouraged to call the NCMEC at 1-800-843-5678 or Mesa Police Department at 1-480-644-2211. 

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