PENDLETON – The search is underway for a young teen reported missing from her home here.

Brittany Elizabeth Newsome, 15, has not been seen by her family since last week, according to a missing persons report filed with the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO).

Brittany is a black female with brown hair and brown eyes. She wears glasses and is five feet, two inches tall and weighs 165 pounds. She was last seen wearing a brown, white and yellow empire waist blouse with a tie back and jean capris.

The teen, who also goes by the nickname “Bre Bre,” was last seen by her father, Millard S. Newsome, on June 26 around 12:30 p.m. in their home on Vaughan Creek Road near Pendleton.

On Wednesday, Millard and Brittany’s stepmother, Kim Newsome sat down with the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald to get information out about Brittany’s disappearance. The two have been working with NCSO and distributing flyers with Brittany’s photos and stats on it.

“I was talking with her in the living room; she was having trouble with her iPod,” said Millard Newsome, recalling the last time he saw Brittany.

Mr. Newsome left his daughter in the living room to retrieve ear phones from a bedroom. When he returned, Brittany was gone.

The Newsomes said later that a neighbor remembered seeing a car drive up to the Newsome’s home and an individual get out and ring the door bell about the same time Millard was in the bedroom.

It is believed Brittany left on her own will.

Though it is not known who Brittany left with, the Newsomes said she was heavily involved with the Internet. The teen has a profile on both MySpace and Facebook, popular social networking web sites.

Kim Newsome said despite them restricting Brittany’s use of the Internet at home, she still had access to the web in school.

“We didn’t realize how widespread the Internet is,” said Kim Newsome. “We want other parents to be aware…we don’t want it to happen to anyone else.”

The Newsomes said Brittany was a good student and there were no signs that she would leave.

Local law enforcement is also on the look out for Brittany.

Northampton County Sheriff’s Chief Detective Captain D.M. Harmon said Brittany’s information has been entered in the NCIC (National Crime Information Center) System.

Harmon said there have been some tips about who Brittany was in contact with prior to her going missing.

NCSO is also checking into the Internet profiles Brittany has on Facebook and MySpace.

Harmon urged those with information concerning Newsome’s whereabouts to contact the NCSO at (252) 534-2611 or call the Northampton County Crime Stoppers hotline at (252) 534-1110.

In the meantime, Millard and Kim Newsome are praying Brittany will return home. Millard Newsome, who is the Pastor of Reaching Out Bible Baptist Church near Murfreesboro, said his congregation along with others within the faith community are praying for Brittany.

The Newsomes said they are willing to help Brittany with whatever she is going through when she comes home.

“We do love her and want her to come home,” said Millard Newsome. “(To) whoever she’s with, please get her back home.”