Corsicana — Lynn Averitt, mother of Leanna Averitt, 14, of Corsicana, who had been missing since Thursday evening, said her daughter was found Friday evening in Dallas. She is safe, Lynn said.
Her parents had been beside themselves with worry.
Police believed the girl had run away.
A 22-year-old from Waxahachie reportedly danced “all night” with Leanna at prom months ago, and Lynn recently found out the girl had been talking to him on the phone since then.
She asked a friend with the police department to call him and tell him Leanna was only 14 years old.
“He didn’t care about the police warning,” Averitt said.
Since then, it’s been a matter of piecing together reports from friends, relatives, neighbors and Facebook contacts, Averitt explained. They were seen at prom together and then at a water park outing. When they blocked his number from her cell phone, she got another cell phone.
They believe the girl was picked up at their house Thursday evening by the man's cousin, who may have taken her to Ellis County.
“The last time she was seen she was walking in Waxahachie last night,” Averitt said. “Her dad and I are scared. We don’t know if she truly is a runaway or if she’s been abducted.”
Averitt believes Leanna would have gotten frightened by now and called home. She has a cell phone, but it’s not turned on, Averitt said.
Leanna is an honor’s student at Agape Christian Academy in Corsicana. The green-eyed brunette is 5 foot 5 inches tall and weighs about 97 pounds.
The family has been posting flyers up in both Ellis and Navarro County, and they’ve filed a missing person’s report with the Corsicana Police Department.
Police wouldn’t comment on the investigation, but the police told Averitt they believe Leanna left of her own free will.
“The worst thing we’ve ever done to our daughter is spoil her,” Averitt said. “Cell phones, computers, money.”
Averitt posted her cell phone number on flyers, and Facebook blew up with conversation about the missing girl
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Janet Jacobs may be reached via e-mail at jacobs@corsicanadailysun.com. Want to “sound off” to this article? E-mail: Soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com
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