Missing Ohio teenager Madison Bell, 18, has been located by authorities. Bell says she left “to start a new life.”
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Bell was last seen at 10:30 AM on May 17. “She yelled, ‘I’m going to go tan. I’ll be right back,’ and I was like, ‘OK, be careful,’” her mom, Melissa Bell, said. “This would be her senior week of high school, so we had a lot of events going on this week that she wouldn’t miss.”
Bell was a no-show for her tanning appointment and her unlocked car was left in a church parking lot. The keys were found in the ignition along with her cell phone.
Six days later, authorities have found Bell who says she left by her own accord and is safe and sound. “Bell has been located safe and left on her own free will,” Sheriff Donnie Barrera said.
“We are just relieved to know Maddie is alive and not in physical danger,” the girl’s family said. They are request privacy “during this difficult time while we are emotionally raw.”
As for whether any legal action will be taken against Bell, legal expert Mike Allen explained to FOX19 NOW how that front could play out: “I don’t know of anything criminal that could be done. On the civil end, you know anybody can sue anybody for anything, but I don’t see that being successful either. I think, the thought would be that ‘hey, you know that’s the cops’ job.’ I understand where people are coming from with it, but I don’t see any avenue to recovery on a civil action either.”
[Via]
