Helicopters join search for missing Georgia college student last seen on Valentine’s Day

FORT VALLEY, Ga. — The Georgia State Patrol’s aviation team has joined the search for a missing Georgia college student who was last seen on Valentine’s Day.

Anitra Gunn, 23, is a senior agriculture major at Fort Valley State University. She was last seen around 11:30 a.m. Friday near Chestnut Hill Road in Fort Valley. She is 5 feet 7 inches, 165 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Police are not sure what she was wearing when she disappeared.

Investigators said Gunn’s family, who live in the Atlanta area, contacted them on Saturday saying they had been unable to reach Gunn for “an unusual amount of time.”

Over the weekend, Fort Valley police found Gunn’s car with its front bumper torn off. Gunn’s father told our ABC affiliate WGXA in Macon that his daughter’s wallet was found in her car and her phone had also been located.

This morning, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed to WGXA that GSP crews were out in a helicopter searching the area where Gunn disappeared.

Fort Valley Police and the Peach County Sheriff’s Office have created a new task force dedicated to Gunn’s case. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation also assisted with processing Gunn’s car.

“If any harm has befell this young lady the arrest and prosecution of the subject or subjects responsible will be of the highest priority for all agencies,” said Chief Lawrence Spurgeon, with the Fort Valley Police Department.

"It’s a crushing feeling to not know, especially like I said when you are used to at least having some sort of contact with her,” said Gunn’s father, Christopher.

We’re staying on top of this developing story to bring you the latest updates on Channel 2 Action News.

© 2020 Cox Media Group