Missing 12-Year-Old from Minneapolis Joyfully Found Safe Near Minnehaha Falls: Weekend Search Ends in Relief

A 12-year-old girl who had been missing from Minnehaha Falls has been found safe. Her family is relieved and grateful. “I screamed, and I grabbed her, and I embraced her,” her mom said. It’s a moment many parents dread: waiting for their child to return home.

Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that the girl returned home on Tuesday evening with a friend and her friend’s parent. Just hours before, officials sent out an emergency alert to help locate her. Concerns were raised since the girl has Type 1 diabetes and was without her insulin. This urgency led to a thorough search involving police, drones, and local nonprofit volunteers.

Friends of the family, Danielle Matthias and Jackie Robinson, also jumped in to help by handing out flyers in the neighborhood. They even launched a Facebook page to share information and updates. Robinson expressed gratitude for the community’s efforts, saying, “People are answering the door and they know her name.”

Authorities indicated that the girl may have run away, a situation that can happen to many kids. In the U.S., the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reports that nearly 400,000 kids go missing each year, often due to reasons like running away from home.

The girl’s mother shared a crucial message for kids in similar situations: “I want to let people know, don’t hide your friends.” This highlights the importance of communication and keeping open channels with friends and family.

Community support played a significant role in her safe return. As Robinson noted, members of the unhoused population also helped in the search efforts, showcasing the solidarity that can arise in crisis situations.

Going forward, the police will look into the reasons behind the girl’s departure but are relieved to have her back. When children go missing, it reminds everyone of the strength found in community support and the need for proactive conversations about safety and communication.



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Missing Person, Minneapolis