Capital Region Teen Spends Night In A Barn After Being Reported Missing

A Capital Region teenager wanders away from home, gets lost, and spends the night in a barn while family, friends and the police force searched for them.

According to the Missing Persons Clearing House, in 2023, a total of 12,623 children were reported missing in New York State. 94% of those cases involved runaways 18-years-of-age or younger. So, you can imagine how worried this Schenectady County family must have been.

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On Thursday November 13th at approximately 1am, the Glenville Police Department requested Forest Ranger assistance with a search for a missing 14-year-old. The teenager was last seen home at 3pm on November 12.

Rangers used a thermal-equipped drone to search the wooded area near the house. The Scotia Police Department and Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office also joined the search. Where could this teen have gone? Were they kidnapped? Are they safe?

At approximately 6:20am, a roaming patrol car spotted the subject walking on Sacandaga Road. The teen said they found shelter in a barn to stay dry overnight.

DO NOT wait to report a missing person. There is an inaccurate premise that police agencies won't accept a report immediately but they will. As a matter of fact, the first 24-hours can be critical in helping find an individual.

If your teen goes missing, report it immediately to your local law enforcement. There is no waiting period for a missing person under 18. Police will want to have a detailed description of your teen. Where and when were they last seen? What were they wearing?