Detectives from the Fairfax County Police Department are asking for the public’s help in finding two missing teens, one of whom is from the Falls Church area, who they said may be in danger.

The two teens, Edvin Escobar Mendez, 17, of Falls Church, and Sergio Arita Triminio, 14, of Alexandria have both gone missing in the past few months. According to a press release from the Fairfax County Police Department, officers did not believe that the two cases were connected, however, after extensive investigation, detectives discovered there may be a connection.

Mendez was reported missing on September 1 and Triminio was not reported missing until October 4, although he had been missing since September 27. When each of the boys were reported missing, they were entered into the department’s system as a missing juvenile and at the time there was no reason to believe either of them was in imminent danger.

But recently, the department’s investigation led detectives to believe that the two teens are acquainted and affiliated with gangs and there new information has recently been discovered by the department to indicate that the teens may be at risk.

Anyone with information about this incident has been asked by the police department to contact Detective Sassano 571-474-6106, or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131. To provide information anonymously, you can contact Crime Solvers electronically by visiting fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text-a-tip by texting “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES(274637) or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS(8477).