COLUMBIA (WACH / AP) - Authorities say a 12-year-old North Carolina girl who is part of an Amber Alert may be traveling along the coast of South Carolina.

According to the Carteret County Sheriff, Abigale Faith Lefevers was last seen at her home in Newport, North Carolina, and is believed to be with a registered sex offender.

Lefevers' father said 38-year-old Timothy Newman had been in contact with his daughter during the past several weeks.

Authorities say Newman is familiar with the Atlantic coast because his father was a large boat captain. They think he might be hanging around marinas near Myrtle Beach or elsewhere along the South Carolina coast.

Investigators say Newman also was a truck driver and may be using back roads to avoid police.

The two may be in a 1998 Chrysler Sebring, red with a black top, with North Carolina tag AKT 6534. They were last seen heading southbound on US 17 and may be heading toward the Myrtle Beach area.

The girl has not been seen since Monday morning.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)