16-year-old Phylicia Barnes was last seen on Tuesday afternoon

BALTIMORE - Baltimore City police say at this point, they do not suspect foul play in the disappearance of a 16-year-old girl from North Carolina.

Phylicia Barnes was visiting friends in Baltimore this week, but she has not been seen since Tuesday. 

At a news conference Friday afternoon, Maj. Clifton McWhite, who heads the City Police's Special Investigations Unit, which includes Missing Persons, said it appears that Barnes left on her own. 'It doesn't appear that there was any foul play at this point,' he said.  'But we're stlil in the stages of the investigation to confirm that there was no foul play.'

Police have checked with local hospitals and homeless shelters, and they've been speaking with people who knew Phylicia Barnes.

'It's concerning from day one when there's no contact at all from the initial start,' Maj. McWhite said.  'But we've had cases where individuals have gone for a period of time just to refresh themselves or for some other issues, but we can't say in this particular incident what the issue is or why this young lady left.'

Her family says Barnes is unfamiliar with Baltimore and knows few people.

Anyone with information, is asked to contact the Missing Person Unit at 443-984-7385, Northwestern Police District at 410-396-2466 or 911.