News of a missing 12-year-old girl Tuesday afternoon spread fast, particularly on social media, throughout the Piqua community.
The Piqua Central Intermediate School student was missing for about five hours before she returned home on her own, Piqua Police Chief Bruce Jamison said.
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She left the school at 807 Nicklin Ave. but never returned home. The district notified parents through its phone system, and other community members shared Facebook posts about the missing girl. The district also alerted the Piqua Police Department.
“An investigation showed that she had made some comments about running away,” Jamison said.
She was listed in a nationwide database as an endangered missing juvenile because of her young age and information that she may be headed to a relative several counties away, the chief said.
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“It caused a lot of concern, a lot of social media stuff going on and a lot of phone calls. We really appreciate a community that’s that concerned. They were really looking to come together to help with this situation,” Jamison said.
The girl was seen leaving school around 3:20 p.m. A resident reported seeing her near the girl’s home around 8:20 p.m.
Jamison said the family was given a referral to get some help after this incident.
The chief asked community members aware of the girl’s identity to give her and her family privacy at this time.
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