16 year old daughter ran away

[Unregistered]

My 16 year old daughter has run away repeatedly over the last month. She has a 20 year old boyfriend who she met on Facebook. They apparently met, and started sneaking out of our house in the middle of the night, without our knowledge. When we stopped this activity, his family got involved and have not only encouraged this "dating" activity, but have actively aided our daughter's disobedience. They provided her with a cell phone a week or two ago to contact them, which we discovered and turned over to the police. We believe that they are harboring her at this time, but cannot prove it. She has now been missing for 2 days. Friends in the neighborhood state that she was planning to leave the country with this guy and marry him - but she has no identification on her, and it is unlikely that this boyfriend has much money to travel very far. The police are doing what they can, but do not have enough solid evidence to search this family's home or property.

Our daughter has changed so much since meeting this man. She was a cheerleader at her high school, had decent grades, and a happy personality. Now she is hostile, disobedient, failing in school (she was expelled before Christmas break), and doesn't seem to care about her appearance at all. She has become a consummate liar and has started smoking.

Any help or ideas would be appreciated.

[ccsmod1]

Hello,

Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Switchboard and sharing your story. We’re so sorry to hear about your daughter changing so dramatically in a way that doesn’t seem conducive to her well being i.e. failing in school. It sounds like you care for your daughter’s and have done your best to protect her.

Since you have reason to believe she may be leaving the country with this man, has anyone spoken to the police about getting the FBI involved? The FBI is usually the entity that handles cases that go beyond state lines. It sounds like you’re working with the police to find her which is great. Have you had a chance to speak to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children? If not, their number is 1800-843-5678. They are a reporting agency where you can file her as a runaway and she’ll be in their national database as well as offer you support.

If there is any way you can spread our number through Facebook or any other outlet that might get to her, we can help her in any way we can even if it’s just talking. We offer mediation and message relay between youth and parents. If you need to talk as well, our confidential hotline is available 24 hours a day at 1800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We hope this helps.
Best of luck,
NRS