Emily Graeber Found
The 15 year old St. Louis Jewish teen missing since October 29th has been found. Emily took a flight out of St. Louis, did not get off the plane at her destination in Utah - and continued on to San Francisco. The Shawn Hornbeck Foundation and the San Francisco community were among those who joined in the effort to find Emily.
This announcement was e-mailed Thursday afternoon from Rabbi Susan Talve:
From: Central Reform Congregation, Rabbi Susan Talve
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 5:26 PM
Subject: Emily is on her way home
EMILY IS ON HER WAY HOME
Every once in awhile, the heart of the universe opens to prayer and acts of kindness. Thanks to all of the Angels that are part of this wonderful network of caring people across the country, Emily Graeber is on her way home.
The Graebers are so grateful for all that you have done and were willing to do for their family. I cannot say enough about the support of the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation.
Please continue to keep the Graebers in your prayers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Missing Clayton Teen Safely Home
Created: 11/15/2007 9:32:10 PM
Last updated: 11/15/2007 10:54:48 PM
VIDEO
Click to watch Kay Quinn's report.
By Kay Quinn
(KSDK) - A missing Clayton teen returned home safe Thursday night.
Emily Graeber's safe return came about thanks to an Internet search engine and a Web site.
The parents of Shawn Hornbeck were also a big help in bringing her back.
On Thursday night, a plane carrying Emily, with Craig and Pam Akers at her side, landed in St. Louis.
The Akers run The Shawn Hornbeck Foundation and have dedicated their lives to finding missing people since their son Shawn went missing in 2002. He was found in January.
Around midnight Wednesday, they got a call from a person in the San Francisco area who knew where Emily, 15, was.
Emily was last seen by her parents getting on a plane at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport bound for Salt Lake City on Oct. 29.
She was returning to a treatment facility in Utah, but didn't get off the plane.
Instead, she continued on to San Francisco and was later found to be a runaway.
A concerned person she met in San Francisco eventually entered her name in an Internet search engine and discovered Emily was posted as a missing person in a Shawn Alert on The Shawn Hornbeck Foundation Web site.
That person, who wants to remain anonymous, called the organization and led the Akers to Emily.
"When it was 3 a.m. and we couldn't reach anyone else who was available and willing to go this morning at 6:25, then Pam and Craig packed their clothes and they were here" at the airport, says Sherri Martin, spokesperson for The Shawn Hornbeck Foundation.
Emily's family is thrilled she's home.
"The ability to find a runaway and for a story to run out so wonderfully because really, it could gave gone really bad. We're grateful for the Shawn Alert," said Julie Ettinger, Emily's cousin.
Emily's family is tremendously relieved and overwhelmed.
They were unable to travel to California because a family member is gravely ill.
One of them couldn't travel to California for their daughter? The daughter they were so distressed and worried about. They hired it done? I can't relate. Mind blowing. What are the odds they'll abdicate responsibility again and she'll be back at IV or another facility within a week?
This is the first time the Akers have traveled out of state to help a child return home.
A new twist on Escort Service?