Teenage Sisters Missing After Leaving Behind Medication, 3 Weeks Later Found Safe
Running away from home is nothing new. It’s one of the biggest threats a kid can level at his or her parents, and it’s often one of the most detrimental life choices a child or young teen can make.
According to Troubled Teen Help, “One in seven kids between the ages of 10 and 18 will run away at some point. And there are 1 million to 3 million runaway and homeless kids living on the streets in the United States.”
Of those kids who do run away, 71 percent are endangered by many things, including drug and/or sexual abuse. Those under 14 are more likely to fall prey to the many negative influences waiting for such victims.
On Oct. 17, two sisters from Edmond, Oklahoma, went missing. Shakira, 13, and Tiara, 15, left their home after escaping through their shared bedroom’s window.
The two were reported as runaways by the Edmond Police, according to the Edmond Sun. Their adoptive parents had reason to believe that, perhaps, the two girls were attempting to get in touch with their biological parents.
When contacted, the biological parents revealed that they hadn’t been in contact with Shakira or Tiara.
Police urged students at the girls’ schools, Edmond Sante Fe High School and Heartland Middle School, to reach out if they had any information regarding the two runaways.
KFOR reported that some students did come forward, revealing to authorities that the sisters had mentioned plans to run away during the fall break. While these informants knew that the girls had plans to run, they didn’t know where to.
“It’s now been a week since Shakira and Tiara Russell left home as runaways,” the Edmond Police Department posted on their Facebook page on Oct. 23. “Our investigators have followed several leads, but nothing has panned out on locating the two.”
“We know they spoke with friends/classmates about their plan to runaway over Fall Break but we have not been able to figure out a location. If you have a Santa Fe HS or Heartland Middle School student who knows these two please ask them if they have any info.
“These two sisters have medications they need to be taking which is a concern especially seven days out.”
People started prayer circles, shared posts on Facebook, and did their part to try to locate the girls and get them home. Thankfully, on Nov. 9, the Edmond Police Department reported that both girls have been found and are safe.
While no other information regarding their whereabouts or reasons for leaving home has been revealed, both sets of parents can now breathe easy knowing their daughters have been located.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
