Runaway teen returns home

Ashley Friel's parents posted her photo and contact information online.

By Lyndsie Manusos

Published April 24, 2009

Ashley Friel, 15, who was missing since April 11, returned safely to her home in Columbia on Wednesday. Friel had run away but decided to come back on her own accord, Columbia Police Department Detective Curtis Brown said.

Brown said teen runaways are generally charged with juvenile delinquency and referred to the Boone County Juvenile Office where they can discuss what happened and may be counseled, but declined to specifically discuss Friel.

"They talk to them about the dangers of running away," Brown said.

Friel's parents used MyMissourian.com, a user-generated news site affiliated with the Columbia Missourian, to try to find their daughter while she was missing. A photo was posted in the entry along with code for a graphic that could be put onto personal Web sites.

The graphic read "Have you seen Ashley?" written on a banner along with a photo of Friel and Brown's number in case anyone might have information on her whereabouts.

Brown said because Friel is a minor, information on what she might be charged with, or if she may be charged at all, is not available to the public.

"Juveniles are protected," Brown said. "We don't release to anyone but the courts."