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Post by meme on Aug 22, 2013 16:07:50 GMT -5
Family fears missing teen lured by online predator 16-year-old Indica Huddleston of Apline, Utah, has been missing since Friday night.
Indica Huddleston, 16, left a note in her bedroom telling her family that she was leaving and she had everything she needed to live on her own. But her family insists the Utah teenager may have been lured away by a predator she met on social media. “This is just not like her. She’s very soft,” her mother Andrea Huddleston said. Indica was last seen by two friends who picked her up at home Friday around 5:30 p.m. and dropped her off at a convenience store. “We live in a little town called Alpine and the store is like the only thing in our town,” Andrea Huddleston said. Indica told her friends she was going to walk home from there. Her younger sister, Annika, was home when Indica left the house. “Annika looked outside and saw the car pulling away,” said the girls’ father, Bryan Huddleston. “A second later, as they were driving, they called Annika using the cell phone of the girl who was driving,” he said. They told her they were going to the park. “She must have come back around 6 p.m. to pick up her stuff and left again,” Andrea Huddleston said. Records from the family’s home security system show the door to the basement -- where Indica’s bedroom is located -- was last shut around 6. Indica’s mother said the teen didn’t have her cell phone with her when she left because her parents had taken it away after an argument that morning. Indica became upset with her parents when she learned she would not be allowed to attend the high school of her choice. Andrea Huddleston arrived home Friday at 9 p.m. “I went down to Indica’s room and noticed her makeup was gone and that was a clue to me that she was leaving. Then I found the note and called the police. It was probably 10 minutes that I was home before I called police,” she said. When police came to the house, they began looking for clues on Facebook. “That’s when I started getting worried when we saw all these guys that she was talking to,” Huddleston said. “I feel that she trusted someone that she should not have trusted.” “The longest she’s ever been away is five hours. She’s a momma’s girl.” The online conversations spanned approximately three months. Andrea Huddleston said her daughter is timid and, despite recently turning 16, she had more interest in taking care of her new horse than getting her driver’s license like most kids her age. According to a press release issued by the Lone Peak Police Department, Indica’s note stated she would not return home until she turned 18. Investigators have contacted family and friends to try to determine Indica’s whereabouts, but have been unable to obtain any information on her location. Andrea Huddleston said Indica was not close friends with the girls who dropped her at the store, but she knew one of them had a car. Both girls have been interviewed twice by police, she said. Indica’s mother is concerned that someone may be holding her daughter hostage and she can’t get away. “The police say they need information to show that she’s in distress. But her not contacting even her sister for five days is an indication of distress,” her mother said. “None of her friends have heard anything.” Police say that Indica ran away, and they have no indication that she is in danger, Huddleston said. “But now they are contemplating the Amber Alert but they said they can’t hit the button yet. They are trying to figure out if they have enough to warrant an Amber Alert,” she said. Det. Dave Ventrano from the Lone Peak Police Department said police continue to follow up on leads. “There is no new information at this time,” he said. “As far as right now, she is still missing.” Anyone with information about Indica’s whereabouts should contact Lone Peak Police at 801-756-9800.www.hlntv.com/slideshow/2013/08/21/missing-utah-teen-where-indica-huddleston?hpt=hln10_3
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Post by meme on Aug 22, 2013 16:37:10 GMT -5
Family of missing Alpine girl asks for public's help
The parents of a 16-year-old Utah County girl who went missing Friday are asking the public for help in locating her. Indica Huddleston of Alpine left home after a disagreement with her parents last week and has yet to make contact with any friends or family. Her parents believe she could be in danger, citing information they have found while investigating her Internet activity over the past several weeks. Included in her social media circle are people in Cache Valley, family members say, although they believe she could be anywhere in Utah or even outside the state. Huddleston is 5-foot-3, 128 pounds, and she has long brown hair and hazel eyes. She did not leave home with a cellphone or any money. "We have reason to believe that she left with someone older who she trusted that might have ill intent," the family wrote in a press release. "It is not like her to run away, and it is even less like her to not be on social media (Facebook/Instagram) to at least let someone in her large network of friends and family know that she is OK." Huddleston's parents have filed both a police report and listed her with the National Center for Missing or Exploited Children. Police have yet to issue an Amber Alert for the teen, and when asked why by KSL-TV in Salt Lake City on Monday, declined to comment. Friends have built a Facebook page in an effort to help with the investigation. It can be found at www.facebook.com/helpfindindicahuddleston, and family members have also been put in touch with an organization called For the Silent at forthesilent.org/. Anyone with information about Huddleston is asked to contact the Lone Peak Police Department at 801-756-9800. news.hjnews.com/news/article_90767930-095c-11e3-8af0-001a4bcf887a.html
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Post by meme on Aug 22, 2013 16:42:21 GMT -5
Online activity raises red flags in case of missing Utah teen; parents reminded to monitor Internet use
Advocacy groups are reminding parents about the importance of monitoring their children's online activities after 16-year-old Indica Huddleston, a junior at Lone Peak High School, left a note stating that she was running away, leaving her parents concerned about the possibility of unsavory people luring their daughter away from home. "I didn't know that she was talking to the kind of people that she was talking to," Andrea Huddleston said of her daughter. "I should've done a better job of monitoring that." Huddleston said she and her daughter had a small disagreement about Indica's schooling, but it didn't seem like anything serious until they found the note on Aug. 15 saying she was running away. "The part that worries me is she says, 'I'm fine; I'm being taken care of,'" Huddleston said. "That doesn't sound right to me. It sounds like someone is luring her away." An August 19 Facebook post by Sierra Huddleston, Indica's sister, said, "It has been identified that many of the people she speaks with are adult men between the ages of 18-27 years old." None of these men, the post said, are men the family knows or trusts. A Lone Peak detective working on the case said the note and other evidence suggests Indica is a runaway and is not in imminent danger, but they are following up on leads and trying to find her. Evelyn Call of the Utah Children Protection Registry said online predators use the Internet to identify children who are vulnerable by looking for youths who may be having family conflicts, who don't have good relationships with their parents or who are looking for attention. The best ways to protect kids is simply to talk to them, Call said. www.deseretnews.com/article/765636309/Online-activity-raises-red-flags-in-case-of-missing-Utah-teen-parents-reminded-to-monitor-Internet.html
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Post by meme on Aug 22, 2013 16:59:05 GMT -5
Desperate search for missing 16-year-old as terrified parents reveal fear she was 'lured away by older man she met online'
Indica Huddleston's family have launched a full scale search for the teen after she ran away on Friday without her cell phone or any money Bryan and Andrea Huddleston have trawled through their daughter's Internet activity and found she's been chatting to older men in recent weeks They believe one of these men lured the 16 year old away and is now holding her against her will or worse
Her sister, Sierra, has launched a social media campaign to find her sister The parents of a 16-year-old Utah girl who disappeared on Friday are frantically trying to locate their daughter, believing she's been lured away by an older man she met online and is in danger. Indica Hudderson's family have launched a full scale search for the teen, who vanished without her cell phone or any money, after police were treating it as a runaway case rather than foul play. Bryan and Andrea Huddleston, from Alpine, said they had a minor argument with their daughter about school on Friday before they found a note saying she had left home. But they said one line in the message made them fear for her safety. Her parents said Indica had recently been spending a lot of time online chatting to older men. They believe she could be in danger after searching through her Internet activity and reading conversations she had had with the men over the past few weeks. 'I didn't know she was talking to the kind of people she was talking to,' Mrs Huddleston said. 'I should have done a better job of monitoring, but I didn't.' She also didn't take any money or her cell phone with her, which sparked suspicion. Her father is frantic, believeing that if she was OK she would have been in touch by now. She has also failed to contact any friends or family on Facebook. 'I think she would have made contact by now if she was safe and well,' he said. 'I don't think she is safe and well.' Her aunt added on her blog thelittlestblog.com: 'She is your typical sixteen year old obsessed with social media. If she were able to see our outpour of love, I know that she would have responded. At least to say, "tell my mom to calm down, I'm OK, I just don't want to go home." Every day we wake up without her is agonizing. I know she wouldn't sit and let this happen.' Video source KSL Lone Peak Police Department detectives are now investigating the disappearance, however an Amber Alert has not yet been issued. The police refused to comment to KSL on why. Indica's parents and her sister, Sierra, are working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and have started a social media campaign to get word out about the missing teen. According to flyers, they believe she may be in other parts of Utah or cities including Seattle, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Indica is 5-foot-3, 128 pounds, and she has long brown hair and hazel eyes.
'We have reason to believe that she left with someone older who she trusted that might have ill intent,' Mrs Huddleston wrote on Facebook. 'It is not like her to run away, and it is even less like her to not be on social media (Facebook/Instagram) to at least let someone in her large network of friends and family know that she is OK.' Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2398131/Indica-Huddleston-missing-Parents-suspect-foul-play-disappearance-16-year-old-girl-whod-recently-spending-lot-time-online.html#ixzz2cjntjVKv Follow us: @mailonline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
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Post by meme on Aug 23, 2013 13:30:58 GMT -5
Police consider elevating runaway teen to 'endangered missing' statusHIGHLAND — Police investigating the disappearance of a 16-year-old girl may be elevating her status to an endangered missing person.
Although that won't necessarily change the way the investigation into what happened to Indica Huddleston is handled, police hope the new label will draw more attention from the public. "The fact that she's been gone now for six days, hasn't contacted anybody, you know, relatives or friends that we are aware of … we are looking at maybe elevating this more from a runaway to a missing child," said Lone Peak police detective Dave Ventrano. Her family, however, is growing increasingly concerned that Indica may be with a dangerous person. Indica was last seen about 5 p.m. on Aug. 16. Her family found a note indicating that she had run away. But they also believe there is strong evidence to suggest she may have taken off with — or been lured away by — an older man she met on Facebook.
Because there was no evidence that an abduction had taken place, police could not issue an Amber Alert. But Ventrano said the public should not interpret that to mean detectives aren't doing anything or are not taking the case seriously. "There's a lot to it. We have to go through phone records. We have to go through her Facebook account. We have to go through other social media. We have to follow up with leads. All this takes time and effort," Ventrano said. "It's not like, 'She's a runaway, and we're not going to do anything.' No, we've been working on it. I've been losing sleep over it. Personally, since I came to work Monday, this has (had) my full-time attention," he said. But as of Thursday, there had been no trace of Indica, Ventrano said, including through cellphone or social media use. "There is absolutely nothing to go on right now," he said. Indica's mother, Andrea Huddleston, said her family remains hopeful, even though it's like "looking for a needle in a haystack." "I can't believe I'm finding myself in this situation. It's very hard to believe. It's so surreal," she said. "And the only way I'm getting myself through every minute is just believing there's some purpose that's greater than me and greater than Indica, and (there's a) greater good that we can do and something we can (do to) make a difference." Indica has never run away before, her mother said. Staying away from home for a night is something Andrea Huddleston said she wouldn't put past her daughter. But after she didn't return the next morning, "I knew I was in an emergency," she said. "I know my daughter. She does not run away," she said. The family believes police are doing the best they can right now and said they understand that they deal with many runaway cases. But a parent has a different kind of urgency to find a loved one than police, Huddleston said. "This is my child. I wish the National Guard was looking for her. Yeah, I'm going to do everything I can (to look for her). I'm not waiting for anyone," she said. Indica's family has been very active in posting information about the case on Facebook. They have been open to interviews from the media and are planning on issuing their own video on Indica's story. They want to do everything they can to keep her face alive in the public. They have also hired several private detectives to track down leads. Ventrano said he encourages the family to keep doing what it is doing on social media. "I think it's great. I think we've had more tips come in," he said. "The more people that see this and the more people that put it out and more exposure it gets, someone is eventually going to see her and know where she's at." Ventrano said Indica is listed on NCIC, meaning if any officer across the country comes across her, information on their national database will come up during a background check that she's missing. Indica is about 5 feet 3 inches tall and 130 pounds. She has long, dark brown hair and olive skin. Anyone with information about her should call their local police department. www.deseretnews.com/article/865585112/Police-consider-elevating-runaway-teen-to-endangered-missing-status.html
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Post by meme on Aug 23, 2013 13:35:28 GMT -5
MISSING: Indica Huddleston 16, Alpine, UtahALPINE, Utah – An Alpine family is asking for the public’s help in locating their 16-year-old daughter whom may have been lured away by someone she may have met on Facebook. Indica Huddleston was last seen at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, at The Junction gas station in Alpine, Utah. Friends dropped her off at the station and she indicated she would walk home. They later found a note in her room indicating she was frustrated, and would be taken care of. The Lone Peak Police Department, which covers Alpine and Highland, Utah, initially reported Indica Huddeston as a runaway, so an Amber Alert was not issued. However, according to statements made to the Deseret News, that status may change to “endangered.” A search of the missing girl’s phone and Facebook records indicate she was in communication with several unknown individuals and may have been enticed to meet them. Many of these individuals are described as adult men between 17-18 years old, according to another Deseret News article. Though unconfirmed, Indica Huddleston may have been spotted in Las Vegas. She may also be in the in regions of Seattle or Los Angeles. If she has traveled to Las Vegas and/or Los Angeles, she will likely have passed through Southern Utah along the way. Her father, Bryan Huddleston, said his daughter is not the type of person to not contact them regardless of the situation. “If she was safe, she would have at least called us to let us know that she is safe,” he said. “But everything surrounding her has gone completely silent.” No posts to Indica Huddleston’s normally active social media accounts have been made since she went missing. Detectives are currently searching into the identities and whereabouts of the individuals believed to be with Indica Huddleston. As details emerge about her last conversations online, the family is hopeful that the status of her case will change in the next few days, allowing for more state and federal support in locating her. “It is a parent’s worst nightmare to open up a child’s Facebook communications and find individuals who’s intentions seemed to leave her so vulnerable to harm or exploitations.” Bryan Huddleston said. “We felt like we had Internet safeguards in place, but it obviously wasn’t enough” Description:
Indica Huddleton Height: 5 feet 3 inches Eyes: Hazel Hair: Brown and long Skin: Olive Weight: 120 pounds She has been listed with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A large social media campaign is underway to distribute information and collect leads, and a Facebook page has also been set up to help with the search. Anyone with information about Indica Huddelstons ’s disappearance can call 800-843-5678 (800-THE-LOST) or the Lone Peak Police Department at 801-756-9800.www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2013/08/23/missing-indica-huddleston-16-alpine-utah/
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Post by meme on Aug 24, 2013 13:10:10 GMT -5
Alpine teen missing a week found safe, questions remain for familyALPINE — The search for a missing 16-year-old girl that raised questions about online safety and how police investigate possible runaway children ended Friday. Indica Huddleston was found safe and uninjured shortly before 6 p.m. Friday and was interviewed Friday night by members of the Lone Peak Police Department and the FBI, her family confirmed.
Her mother, Andrea Huddleston, said the family did not have much information about where their daughter has been or who she may have been with, but said before they rushed out the door to be reunited with Indica that this was "the call we've been longing for." Indica's father, Bryan Huddleston, said late Friday that law enforcement representatives hadn't told them anything about what has happened over the past week. He confirmed that a criminal investigation was ongoing and possible criminal charges were being considered. Lone Peak Police said that Indica had been found about 5:45 p.m. Friday somewhere in the Salt Lake Valley. It was not known is others were involved in the recovery or the girl's initial disappearance.
Indica was last seen a week ago. Her family found a note indicating she had run away, which prevented an Amber Alert from being issued reporting her disappearance. Huddleston's parents were especially worried that while she might have left home on her own, evidence suggested she might have been lured away by an older man she met on Facebook. Nevertheless, police assured the family that they were diligently looking for the girl. After days of wondering, police considered Thursday elevating her status to an endangered missing person, hoping to draw the public's focus to the case. "The fact that she's been gone now for six days, hasn't contacted anybody, you know, relatives or friends that we are aware of … we are looking at maybe elevating this more from a runaway to a missing child," said Lone Peak police detective Dave Ventrano earlier this week. Andrea Huddleston said the girl had never run away before, but the fear didn't set in until the sun rose last Saturday and the teen hadn't returned. Police were reviewing Indica's phone records and social media history looking for indications of where she might have gone. Her parents reported spending several hours with FBI investigators Friday gathering more information about the girl. Andrea Huddleston said Indica had 1,550 Facebook friends, and at least 1,000 of them could be considered persons of interest, her mother said. "I didn't know she was talking to the kind of people she was talking to," the mother said. "I should have done a better job of monitoring, but I didn't." What the Huddlestons have learned since their daughter disappeared through investigators and private detectives they've hired is that many of the "friends" Indica had on Facebook were adult men posing as someone else. "Definitely we know there were bogus profiles," Huddleston said. "(There is) all this evidence that she thinks she's talking to one person and it's clearly not that person," the girl's mother said before learning that her daughter had been found. As the police investigation developed through the week, Indica's family took to the Internet in a search of their own. Thousands on Facebook shared Indica's picture, coordinated efforts to distribute missing persons fliers and organized a candlelight vigil that would have taken place Sunday. The Huddleston family's story crossed oceans and Indica was added to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children database. As word spread that Indica had been located, supporters celebrated online. Messages offering condolences and supportive prayers turned to joy. "Thank you everyone for your support and help in finding Indica Huddleston. She has been found and is home safe and sound with her family," read a Facebook post Friday night on the page run by family members. "We appreciate your support more than you know." "Praise!" one woman responded. "Give her a hug!" said another. www.deseretnews.com/article/865585188/Alpine-teen-missing-a-week-found-safe-questions-remain-for-family.html
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