HAMDEN — Hamden police say a 12-year-old and her mom’s car, both said to be missing, were found in neighboring New Haven Friday morning.
They’re not releasing how exactly they found the girl, but Hamden Police Chief Thomas Wydra said his officers had a lot of help in the search.
“Our people worked around the clock in Hamden. We had a lot of help from the New Haven Police Department. I have to give them a shot out and then family and friends of these two young girls really played a key role in their recovery,” said Chief Wydra.
Police said the 12-year-old was reported missing around 7 p.m Thursday. The mother’s car, the Altima, was no longer in the driveway. Her 9-year-old sister was missing too.
Her mother told police that Rebecca had driven her car before without her permission.
Police issued a silver alert for both girls and began a search.
Around midnight Thursday, police were called to their home on Windsor Road and discovered the younger girl returned home. Hamden Mayor Curt Leng said the 9-year-old had been dropped off a few houses away from her own. The 12-year-old told her that she loved her and instructed her to go home. Rebecca then left again in an Altima along with 3 unknown males who were also in the car, according to the girl.
Late Friday morning, the family was reunited and left the Hamden Police Department together. Both girls were unharmed, according to police.
The girls’ mother said, “It’s really peaceful to know that my daughter’s back home with us.”
Police say they are still working to find out more about what happened during the long night she was missing.
Wydra said, “The investigation’s ongoing. We need to determine if there was any criminality to the incident. I’m not suggesting the 12-year-old necessarily, but anyone who she may have come in contact with.”