Danielle Niesz has been sitting by the phone for almost two weeks, awaiting any news about her nineteen-year-old son Ryan, who left his Farmingdale home to go to the Sunrise Mall on Saturday, April 22 at 7 p.m. and never came back.

Ryan called friends earlier in the day and made plans to meet them that night. He never showed and when his mother realized that the car was missing the next morning, she became distressed and started calling around the neighborhood. His friends then began looking for him.

They found his mother's car abandoned in the rear parking lot near the south entrance of JC Penney's. In it were newly-bought Easter cards.

"He left the house so happy and joking around," said his mother. "There was nothing suspicious about his behavior."

His mother proudly talks about his athletic abilities and spends her days looking at the many awards Ryan received through the years. He played football and baseball. He has a girlfriend and many friends who are distraught and in disbelief.

"He is so loved by his peers," she said. "All of the parents loved him also, because he is respectful and polite."

Debbie Ralleigh, the mother of one of Ryan's friends, Shawn, said she has also suffered since Ryan has been missing. He spent holidays and special occasions at her home. Being a parent with a child the same age, Ralleigh said she cannot imagine the pain that the Niesz family is going through.

"This is so heartbreaking," said Ralleigh. "The boys spent so much time together, he is like family. He is one of those young men; to know him is to love him."

The family will not ask for any explanation should they hear from Ryan, she said and if he does not want to come home for some reason, they would be relieved to know that he is alright.

"We just want to know that he is alive," said Ralleigh.

Nassau County Detective Michael Aronsen said that no new information about Ryan has come to light. Anyone with information can call the Nassau County Police Department at 573-5336. All calls will be kept confidential. Niesz asked the public to distribute copies of any articles written about Ryan to relatives or friends across the nation. A picture of Ryan is posted at missing.inthe.net, a web-site dedicated to missing children worldwide. More than 500 flyers have been posted at bus and train stations across the Island.

Ryan is 5'9" and weighs approximately 160 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. Family members say he was wearing blue/gray jeans, a gray pullover and sneakers when they last saw him. He has a silver hoop earring in his left ear.

"He is such a good boy, we ask that you pray for him," pleaded his mother. "We need to know that he is not in any danger."