A teen vanished weeks ago, leaving only a final voicemail for her family

Seventeen-year-old Genesis Gabriella Balch went missing on April 1, and her family is desperate for clues.

When a child disappears, the quiet hurts the most. For one local family, that quiet was broken by a single phone message, but it only brought more pain.

WHAT HAPPENED

Genesis Gabriella Balch is 17 years old. She went missing from her home in Thousand Oaks on April 1, 2026.

Her family has not seen her since. She often visits East Los Angeles, but nobody knows where she went.

Her great-grandmother got a voicemail from Genesis on April 19, 2026. No one has heard from her since that day.

WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS

*Age: 17 years old (born November 27, 2008).

• Physical traits: 5 feet 7 inches tall, 120 pounds, black hair, brown eyes, light skin.
• Tattoos and scars: "XX" on left wrist, "Angel" on left arm, and cuts on her inner left arm.
• Last contact: A voicemail left for her great-grandmother on April 19, 2026.
• Key locations: Thousand Oaks and East Los Angeles.

THE BIGGER QUESTION

How do we protect young people who struggle with mental health before they run? Genesis has a history of depression and drug use, two issues that put teens at high risk.

When kids fall through the cracks of our health systems, they often end up on the streets. We must ask if we do enough to support families before a crisis hits.

THE OTHER SIDE

There is no suspect or defense in this case, as police have not named any bad actor. Officers are treating this as a missing person search, while her family works to find her. The family's plea remains the strongest tool to bring her home safe.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW

The search for Genesis continues in both Thousand Oaks and East Los Angeles. Her family asks anyone with any news to call the police or contact them directly.

Every day she is gone increases the danger to her safety. Her mother and grandmother are waiting by the phone.

If you see her, call Ventura County Sheriff's Dispatch at 805-654-9511, her mom at 805-420-8095, or her grandma at 805-796-8615 immediately.

You can also directly DM her mom @yg_queen_b via Instagram for any information you might know.