Missing teen found in St. Louis during search for different missing girl

ST. LOUIS – Authorities found one missing teenager Thursday in St. Louis while responding to a call to search for a different missing girl.

A spokesperson with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department tells FOX 2 that officers found a 16-year-old child who was previously reported missing from Hazelwood, Missouri. Police did not immediately disclose the identity or gender of the child who was found.

SLMPD says the child was found while police responded to a call to search for a missing girl in the 5800 block of Selber Court in the city’s Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood.

Officers were initially called to scene in an effort to locate Mia Steed, a 15-year-old girl missing from SLMPD’s jurisdiction. Sneed was reported missing on July 19. Police have not located Sneed, nor anyone else reported missing, since the responding to the call.

Lenora Vanhook, Steed’s Grandmother said “Its been awhile  you miss somebody and they not at home, you don’t know what is going on , too much stuff going on out here everyday so everyone is concerned for her safety.”

Steed is described as a medium complexion black female, 5’4″, 130 pounds with a medium build. she had long twisty type braids and was last seen wearing tan sweatpants and a tan shirt.

Thursday afternoon, a large-scale search for Sneed led her family and search team to an apartment building in north St. Louis near Goodfellow. This is where the 16-year-old was found.

Upon arrival, searchers didn’t locate Mia; however, they found a 16-year-old who was reported missing from Hazelwood .

Mack Williams, a volunteer, said, “As they approached the building , one of the young ladies that has been missing tried to escape out the back and she escaped out the back and took off running. I was searching for Mia and actually we converged and when I encountered her, she pretended to be a person looking for Mia as well.”

Rosalind Snider, apartment security guard, said, “That’s the one they were actually called for up here and they just happen run across this one. She knew she been missing so when I knocked on the door, she jumped out the window

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol website, Hazelwood police reported two teens missing last week.

Officials say the missing Hazelwood teen was found outside the apartment and the St. Louis  juvenile division will assist with the investigation as the search for Steed continues.

Police are encouraging anyone who may know the whereabouts of Steed to contact police

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