Sweet Home Police Assist in Returning Missing Woman to Connecticut

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SWEET HOME, Ore. March 10, 2022 — On Wednesday, March 9, 2022, the Sweet Home Police Department assisted in returning a missing 24-year-old woman with developmental disabilities home to Seymour, Connecticut.

The woman had been reported missing to the Seymour Police Department after last being seen on February 25 in Connecticut. Seymour police informed SHPD that an emergency ping placed the woman’s phone in the Sweet Home area Sunday, March 6. 

Sweet Home Police Sgt. Dave Hickox went to the transient camp behind the old City Hall to see if he could locate the woman there or contact someone who may have seen her. A camp resident suggested checking with a homeless family who set up a tent there on Friday, March 4, 2022. 

Hickcox located the missing woman at the camp and provided a phone to talk with her father. At the time, she told the sergeant that she wanted to “try life” on her own, and she remained in the camp.

SHPD’s investigation revealed that the woman had come to Sweet Home by bus in late February after developing an online relationship through a social media platform. That relationship ended before her arrival. After she arrived, she stayed with other residents. 

On Monday, March 7, the woman contacted Sweet Home police and said she was ready to go home. SHPD began working with her father on a plan to get her there and reached out to the recently re-opened Hope Center to place her in an emergency bed. 

The Hope Center took in the woman while her father worked out a plan to get her home, culminating in purchasing airfare for a roughly 16-hour trip from Eugene to Hartford, Conn., with layovers in San Francisco, Calif.; Portland; and Atlanta, Ga. 

At 3:00 am on Wednesday, SHPD Community Services Officer Sean Morgan and volunteer Debbie Walvatne provided transportation to the Eugene Airport. The Hope Center provided snacks for the trip, while SHPD personnel personally provided additional snacks and cash for meals.  

Wednesday at 10:30 pm, the woman’s father reported that she was home and safe.

Sgt Dave Hickcox    CSO Sean Morgan

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For Additional Information Contact:
Sweet Home Police Department
541-367-5181
shpd@sweethomeor.gov