Crime & Safety
How Long Does it Take to Launch a Missing Person Search?
In the case of runaways, authorities don't always start a search immediately unless the person reported missing is "very young," King County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Cindi West said.
After Woodinville High School sophomore Caitlin Brown's body was found Thursday by a King County Sheriff Search and Rescue team, some asked why a search wasn't started earlier, especially since police said she had been missing since Tuesday and had a "suicidal history."
Sgt. Cindi West, King County's spokesperson, told Patch Friday that in the case of runaways, authorities don't always start a search immediately unless the person reported missing is "very young."
As authorities learned more about Brown's situation, West said they decided to have their Search and Rescue teams look for her in the area she was last seen, near Hollywood Hill Elementary.
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West gave this timeline:
She was missing since the 19th but it was reported to us on the 20th. We found her on the 21st.
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What do you think? When should a search be started for a teenager who is missing? Tell us in comments.
Previous coverage:
Suicide: Warning Signs and Resources
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