Published in the High Desert Advocate Newspaper in October 2nd, 2020 Edition.
Spokane Police say a 15-year-old girl who was reported missing from Spokane last weekend has been found safe in Nevada.
Sophia Owens was found near Elko, Nevada, in the company of an 18-year-old man. She is now in protective custody, according to police.
Owens’ parents say that she ran away with the man, who she’d met online.
The Spokane Police Department extended its thanks to those involved in the investigation. All the agencies involved will determine what potential criminal charges, if any, may result from the incident.
September 28, more than 36 hours since the 15-year-old girl vanished in Spokane. Sophia Owens had not been seen since Saturday morning. Her family was now fearing the worst.
The family released a statement: “We are grateful beyond measure for the extraordinary work of the Spokane police and FBI. Sophie is safe, but this could have ended badly. For parents and teens, we hope this brings home the very real risk and dangers of modern social media.”
