Teen in foster care missing from Sunriver has been found, state agency says
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Oregon Department of Human Services Child Welfare Division said Monday that a teen in foster care who went missing from Sunriver on Thursday, June 23 was found on Friday, July 1.
The agency said it was "thankful for the community support to find Mercedes “Bow” Dunnington, 16, who had been reported missing several times in recent weeks.
The division asked the public on Friday, June 24 to help find the teen, who they said was believed to be in danger, and to contact 911 or local law enforcement if they believed they see her.
Bow was believed to be traveling to Bend and is known to spend time at the local parks, gas stations and homeless encampments in Bend. She also goes by the name Katie.
Name: Mercedes “Bow” Dunnington
Pronouns: She/her
Date of birth: Jan. 10, 2006
Height: 5-foot-6
Weight: 187 pounds
Hair: Dyed blond
Eye color: Green
Other identifying information: Bow was last seen wearing a fleece red and black button up jacket with a hood.
Sunriver Police Department Case #2022-00003269
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #1453942
A small number of children in foster care may be in significant danger when they run away or have gone missing. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and ensure their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.
Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233). This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.
