Missing girl from West Plains is found, authorities announce

A missing south-central Missouri girl was reunited with her parents Wednesday, Aug. 28, authorities say.

Abigail Lawless, 17, of West Plains, was found after a regional effort that eventually was publicized nationally.

She was reported missing by her parents at around midnight Aug. 16, and a missing persons advisory was issued by the Howell County Sheriff’s Department the afternoon of Aug. 17. Her mother, Leah Lawless, confirmed her return early Thursday morning in a social media post.

“Abby HAS been found and is in our custody! She is safe and healthy, Praise the Lord!” her mother wrote. “We want to thank EVERYONE for the continuous prayers and support. This has been the WORST 12 days of our lives. We want to ask that you would please pray for healing and restoration for all of us, especially Abby as we recover from this ordeal. I will not be sharing details of the investigation or details of what has transpired. We are just SO thankful to have Abby back safe!”

According to an alert distributed at the time of the disappearance by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, she had left a note stating she was “better off living on her own,” and was believed at the time to be possibly traveling to Kansas City with a person she met online, but that person’s identity was unknown.

The patrol took its information from the National Crime Information Center, which noted the teen turned 17 on Aug. 8 and included an update that the possibility existed she may be traveling to Virginia, and the vehicle in which she was traveling was unknown.

The sheriff’s department noted investigator Lt. Torey Thompson and his team conducted an extensive inquiry into Lawless’ case, and credited the successful resolution of the case to the joint efforts of its office, the U.S. Marshals Service, various state and local law enforcement agencies, and the help provided by the community through tips and information.

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