Updated: 10:15 a.m. on March 9, 2025

OAK CREEK, Wis. (CBS 58) - The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department says the mother of Lillian has been arrested and booked, facing a felony charge of "interfering with child custody - other parent". 

It is unknown at this time if it was connected to Lillian's disappearance. 

Updated: 5:19 p.m. on March 7, 2025

OAK CREEK, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Oak Creek police say Lillian Asala was located safe Friday, by members of the Oak Creek Police Department. 

Officials say the investigation is still active, but there is no threat to the community. 

Police say further information will be released at a later time. 

Published: 10:43 a.m. on March 2, 2025

OAK CREEK, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A family's search for their missing teen grew Monday as friends and strangers joined them in looking for 13-year-old Lillian Asala. Relatives set up at the American Legion post on S. Shepard Ave., handing out flyers throughout the night.

Asala's father, Cody Czarnecki, said Lillian left the house around 4:30 p.m. Saturday. She was going to the Oak Creek Skate Park on E. Drexel Ave., and her grandmother, Lisa Hillestad, said the families of other girls have since reached out to say Lillian was at the skate park.

"The parents reached out and said that the girls were at the park and noticed that Lilli was there because they go to school with her," Hillestad said.

When the teen didn't come home after sunset, the family immediately got worried. Both Czarnecki and Hillestad said it was completely out of Asala's character to not come home and not communicate with relatives.

"It got dark," Hillestad. "And we went driving around and we couldn't find her and her phone was dead."

None of the girls saw Asala leave, however, and Hillestad said a tracking app showed the teen's phone went through the woods near the skate park. The last location her phone showed was the intersection of S. Pennsylvania Ave. and E. Forest Hill Ave., less than a mile from the park but also a location where Asala would have no business being.

"[Investigators] feel that maybe, at that point, where the dogs stopped and the GPS, that maybe she got into a vehicle at that point," Hillestad said. "And that is scary."

Oak Creek police did not respond to messages left Monday seeking an update on the search.

The search took another twist Sunday when a bystander found Asala's phone; it was back near the skate park. Hillestad said investigators have since taken possession of the girl's phone.

"The phone was found; whether that's good or bad, that's what we got," she said. "The phone is found, and the detectives are now on the case."

The family said they were overwhelmed by the outreach from people offering to help with the search Monday. A notepad tracking volunteers' locations helpers from Watertown, Whitefish Bay and even as far away as Madison.

Tiprint Inc. in Cudahy made flyers and posters for the family to hand out, and relatives said they'd distributed more than 500 as of Monday evening.

Hillestad said the family's message to Lillian was simple and to the point.

"Lillian, if you're watching this and you made a mistake, it does not matter. You see how much we love you. It does not matter," she said. "I would just- get to a phone, call us."

Police say Lillian is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, with blonde hair and braces. She was last seen wearing a black winter coat, blue jeans, and white Nike shoes. 

Police have provided additional pictures of the 13-year-old:

Oak Creek Police Department

Police says she has been missing since 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, from an address in Oak Creek. 

Officials ask that you please contact the Oak Creek Police Department at 414-762-8200 if you have any information on Lillian’s whereabouts.