Authorities vow to continue searching for missing Jefferson Hills teen

Authorities are continuing to search for a missing 15-year-old Jefferson Hills boy, according to the Elizabeth Borough Police Department.

Elizabeth Borough police and firefighters, Jefferson Hills police and other assisting police, fire and ambulance agencies “will not stop looking for Jeno Moretti,” Elizabeth Borough police said on their Facebook page Thursday.

Moretti’s family reported him missing on Nov. 22. He was last seen Nov. 21 in the Floreffe neighborhood of Jefferson Hills.

Officials say bullying on social media may have contributed to Moretti’s disappearance, the Trib’s news partner, WPXI-TV, reported.

Investigators received a tip that someone matching Moretti’s description was seen near the Elizabeth Bridge, WPXI reported. Surveillance video showed someone matching his description walking up stairs to the bridge.

Dive teams searched the Monongahela River in the area of the bridge on Nov. 24 and 25, but did not find Moretti.

On Facebook, Elizabeth Borough police said a GoFundMe account was established to cover expenses associated with bringing in search teams from out of state, including fuel and lodging costs.

According to the GoFundMe, the family is asking for donations to help pay for a more extensive search of the river. As of Friday morning, the fundraising effort had collected nearly $7,000 toward a $10,000 goal from 150 donors.

Moretti’s family will not have to pay for any costs associated with the search, and Elizabeth Borough police and firefighters will not benefit from money donated through the GoFundMe effort, police said.

“The public needs to know that all the individuals who have come out to assist with the searching of Jeno Moretti have been 100% volunteer. The only comments that have been made about costs were made to express what the value of all the equipment used… was,” police said. “There is no cost to the emergency services no matter what division we are talking about, police, fire or EMS.”