Editor's Note: Last July, we profiled the search for Hailey Renee Medford, a missing teen who was thought to have run away with her boyfriend to the Bonney Lake area. Unfortunately, Hailey has run into trouble again and her family is asking the community for help.
Here's what we know, from Courtney Abbott-Burnett, Hailey's stepmom:
I really wish I was writing you today under better circumstances. So last summer if you remember we weren't sure where my step daughter was. Her mother had left her here with her boyfriends family, but everyone was denying it.
Shortly after that, she reached out to an aunt on the mom's side, and we convinved her to come live here with us at our home. She's been here, and seemed by all accounts to be doing better. We didn't force her to cut out to the boyfriend entirely, but had made a point of distancing them both around January of this year, due to some unsettling events with his mother, and the way she spoke to us.
Apparently Kenneth gave Hailey a phone to use behind our backs, and we found it two weeks back. A few days went by, and nothing happened and all seemed as best as it could with a mad teenager. She went to school on Monday, and Tuesday with no events. She was supposed to stay after due to needing extra help, and I was her ride.
When I went to pick her up on Wednesday afternoon (5/8), she wasn't outside in the normal spot. I waited, and looked around the school with no avail. Within less than an hour from this my husband went to Bonney Lake PD to report her as missing, or possibly runaway. An officer there had informed him that earlier that morning around 11 a.m. Susan Lewis, Kenneth Lewis's mother, picked her up and had her at that time.
Later that night we were encouraged by BPLD to try to get them any info, such as plate # for the Lewis's so they could locate an address. They were in Edgewood, but moved sometime in the past few months to Kent.
My husband located her place of employment, and went there to try to get a plate number. While there, he flagged down a Kent PD officer. The officer questioned Susan, who confirmed she had Hailey, gave her new address, but stated she'd be calling the house to advise Hailey to move before they arrived.
She has been reported as missing teen/runaway with both Bonney Lake and Kent PD, and Kent has done daily attempt to locates with no success. I never took down the FB page, and opened it back up this past Saturday. Since a photo I posted of her on Monday has went viral.
I also contacted The Tacoma News Tribune, and they put something up this am on their blog. Anything you can do or write to get the word out would greatly help. We know the Lewis' are harboring her, and getting help from others. We're persuing legal action against them, but till she's home with family, we are very
worried and concerned.
Please help bring Hailey home and see more on the Facebook page, Help Find Hailey Renee Medford.
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