Parents, Authorities Target Missing Ohio Girl Abbi Obermiller's Boyfriend

(June 27) -- The parents of a missing 17-year-old Ohio girl are pleading for their daughter's safe return, telling the media they believe her 21-year-old boyfriend is connected to her June 7 disappearance.

Authorities say Abigail "Abbi" Obermiller vanished from her grandmother's home in Huron County, Ohio, after exchanging text messages with her boyfriend of nearly a year, Robert "Bobby" Young, who has pleaded not guilty to obstruction of justice charges in connection with the case.

"It's clear he [Young] sent her text messages of when to leave the house and was aware of who was picking her up," Norwalk Police Sgt. Jim Fulton told Cleveland's WJW-TV.

Young denies he had any involvement in Abbi's disappearance, but authorities and her parents suspect otherwise.

"She was upset because we didn't like her boyfriend," Abbi's mother, Rose Obermiller, told Fox News. "I think they just made up their mind to get together and leave."

Authorities said they believed the couple was planning to go to West Virginia and get married, but according to reports, Obermiller's family believes that she is being held against her will by her boyfriend's family in Detroit or Toledo, Ohio.

Police said they have not issued an Amber Alert because they do not believe Abbi was abducted.

"She left a note behind. It was hidden in a notebook. It indicates she left willingly because of her family situation," Fulton told WJW of Abbi, who was sparring with her parents over her relationship and went to stay with her grandmother after the school year ended.

The police investigation continues to focus on Young, who is expected to appear in court on July 7.

"We're trying to rule out foul play, and at this point we can't," Norfolk police chief Dave Light told the Sandusky Register newspaper.

Obermiller described her daughter's boyfriend as "very possessive" and "controlling."

"He didn't even want her near her friends during prom," she told Fox News. "She had this beautiful prom dress and she had to sit on the sidelines."

An honor student and aspiring oncologist, Abbi displayed uncharacteristic behavior in the run-up to her disappearance, according to her father, James Obermiller.

"It's not like her to do this," he told the Register. "Not calling ... I'm not understanding that. At least call and let us know she's safe."

Young recently backed out of a planned polygraph test, but allowed police to search the home he shares with his sister, Fox News reported.