A 15-year-old girl reported missing from Chicago was located safe in Waynesfield on Thursday.
Waynesfield Police agency Chief Nathan Motter launched the retrieval after being stopped by a couple traveling through the region who were concerned for the girl’s welfare, according to a social media announcement from the agency.
The incident began when the boyfriend’s parents approached Motter to seek aid with their son’s girlfriend. The pair alerted the chief that they feared the 15-year-old was in jeopardy and needed immediate assistance.
Following an investigation with a detective from the Chicago Police Department and the United States Marshals Service, police determined that the girl had been reported missing in Chicago. The teenager stated her intention to escape with her boyfriend upon reaching Columbus, but the boyfriend’s parents intervened.
The parents were attempting to transport the daughter back to Chicago when she claimed that she planned to leave as soon as the vehicle stopped. Concerned for her safety, the parents sought Motter’s assistance while the youngster slept in the car.
The kid was successfully found thanks to the concerted efforts of several agencies. She was reunited with her father and brother at the Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office 7 hours after her boyfriend’s parents called police.
“This was an excellent collaboration of multiple local and federal resources to return a missing girl to her family. With limited information and a language barrier, we were able to safely reunite a teenager with her family,” Motter said.
