ISP: Missing Pa. teen found at downtown TH bus station

Lucy Perry photo

A missing Pennsylvania teen was located safe and sound at a local bus station this afternoon by quick-acting police on the case.

Officers were responding to information received from the Pennsylvania State Police that the teen could be in Terre Haute. Indiana State Police Sgt. Joe Watts explained that the runaway was, in fact, on the westbound commercial bus en route to the state of California It had made a scheduled afternoon stop at the Terre Haute bus station.

ISP Trooper Nicole Cheeks and officers from the Indiana State University Police Departmen t located a 13-year-old runaway girl from Easton, Pa. at the Terre Haute bus station near Ninth and Cherry Streets at about 3 p.m.

"The young girl was reportedly having family issues and during her difficulties, met another person online that identified themselves as a 15-year-old girl. The friendship evolved into the Pennsylvania teen traveling to the Los Angeles area of California to establish residence with the person," Watts explained. 
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Watts notes that the community should beware while taking part in communications online with strangers ---  teenagers and adults alike. Online communications with strangers and any subsequent meetings with the unknown individual can potetentially put an unsuspecting victim in danger, he said.