Scottie Morris, a 14-year-old missing Indiana boy, has been located safely, according to police, after going missing for a week.
Morris was reported missing on March 16, according to The Independent, which sparked a panic in the Eaton neighborhood.
Police advised citizens to search their security footage for any indication of the child.
According to The Independent, Morris reportedly vanished while wearing a white t-shirt on which were written the words “liar.” This allegedly served as the teen’s punishment. Police have stated that they are looking into this event and have cautioned social media users against spreading online rumors.
The 14-year-old left his parent’s house after a disagreement.
Social internet erupted when police posted a picture of a furious Scottie wearing the shirt with derogatory remarks scribbled on it.
The EPD responded by saying, “We are deeply sorry the message appeared as if we were trying to embarrass him in [any manner], as that would NEVER be our objective. We simply care that we recover Scottie safely and then continue our inquiry. “Placing that photo on social media was in no way an attempt to embarrass or humiliate him.”
A candlelight vigil was held one week following his disappearance. The Eaton Police Department stated they are out of areas to look for the teen, and temperatures are dropping to below freezing, so there are fewer chances of finding him or her.
Up to 100 volunteers from the 1,500-person village participated in the searches.
Officials from the Eaton Police Department have now confirmed that Scottie was recovered on the evening of March 24 at 22:31 in a Facebook post published this past weekend.
The post stated, “An Eaton Officer at Hartford Street & Harris Street located Morris.” “As a precaution, Scottie was sent to the ER at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.
With Delaware County’s Child Protective Services’ aid, Scottie has been put in a secure setting. The family is helping the investigation in any way possible.
Later today, interviews will be done.
We want to thank everyone for their support throughout the past eight days.
According to a subsequent post, officers from the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department and the EPD had spent most of the day conducting interviews.
“Two people were brought in for questioning. However, they have subsequently been exonerated of any participation in this case. To help Scottie, the Department of Child Services is working. The family has been cooperating with the investigation in every way possible.
