Woman missing since pope's visit to Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are looking for a woman in her 20s who has been missing since the weekend Pope Francis was in town.

Loved ones say she went to attend the World Meeting of Families concert for the pope on Saturday September 26th and they haven't seen her since.

They say she normally will make contact with friends every three to four days. But now it's been more than two weeks. She has not gone back to her apartment and she has not reached out.

"It drives me crazy, because I think of all these different scenarios," said Shane Christopher Grant when talking about his good friend Yulia Milne.

She was seen by Grant's mom at Broad and Cherry streets where there was a security checkpoint for the event.

Police say the 24-year-old Milne suffers from bipolar disorder and needs medications.

Among Grant's fears is the possibility that the vulnerable girl met the wrong person.

Grant says, "I'm just scared that maybe somebody got her a drink. Who knows? Put something in her drink. I just want to make sure she's alive."

Milne's friends have used social media and posters to get the word out.

Milne was reported missing by the organization that operates an assisted living facility where she stayed.

Police stress that as an adult Milne has the right to go where she wants. Still they are investigating, looking into if Milne has been using her debit card.

Philadelphia Police Lt John Standford explains, "That's something our investigators take a look at any time a person is reported missing, if there is any type of cell phone or if there is any type of credit card, debit card."

Milne has a fondness for wigs, which could make it tough for the public to spot her.

Grant says, "She has short brown hair underneath, and she wears wigs because she doesn't like how her hair looks."

One social media post worries Grant. Someone said on the 26th, the day of the concert, at Broad and West Indiana a group of kids were taunting a young woman, pulling at her wig.

Milne has been missing for 17 days.

"It's spiritual torture not know where she is, and not know if she's ok," said Grant.

Yulia was wearing a long blonde wig the last day anyone say her. While her hair color changed, Grant says two constants are her piercing bright blue eyes and the trace of a Russian accent.