ONLINE ROMANCE BLAMED FOR GIRL'S DISAPPEARANCE.(MAIN)

Byline: Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Police suspect that a missing 14-year-old girl from upstate New York and an Offutt Air Force Base airman who is absent without leave are together after corresponding on the Internet.

``I couldn't guarantee how much time we could spend together,'' a recent computer message from the airman read. ``But at least it would be TOGETHER.''

Ceara O'Connell of Brighton, a Monroe County suburb of Rochester, and 22-year-old Senior Airman Brooker Maltais have been missing for just over a week.

``We feel it's reasonable that the two of them are together,'' said Monroe County Sheriff Capt. Maureen Chisholm.

Police have examined the messages sent between the two via the computer. ``They were generally like what a boyfriend-girlfriend would communicate back and forth,'' Chisholm said. O'Connell last was seen Dec. 19, when her mother dropped her off at a mall near their home.

Her mother reported her missing at 11 that night. Chisholm said the girl had told her mother she was going to the mall to meet friends.

Ceara's aunt, Laura O'Connell, said the teenager is an honors student whose mother recently restricted her use of the computer because she spent too much time online.

``This is a girl who's never even dated before,'' Laura O'Connell said. ``She's a very intellectual, very innocent girl. That's what's amazing.''

Maltais left work at Offutt on Dec. 18, went on vacation the next day and did not report back to work Monday. He was reported AWOL on Tuesday.