A 15-year-old girl who left a Baldwin County diversion center without permission on March 16 has been located and is now reportedly with family members.
Deanna Simpson said early this evening (Tuesday, March 23) that her niece, Rebekah Bundrum, called relatives around 4:00t his afternoon when the news of her disappearance spread across the state after the brief story and several photographs were posted on the Atmore News Facebook page.
The 15-year-old made it to Cartersville, Ga. before deciding to give up her short dance with freedom, Ms. Simpson said.
Rebekah was housed at Pathway’s Baldwin County center, located in the Lottie community, by order of a Baldwin County juvenile court judge.
She and another 15-year-old girl left the diversion center together. Ms. Simpson said she understood that another girl was with Rebekah when she was found in Cartersville, but she was not sure if it was the one with whom she left Pathway.
“The main thing is, she’s safe,” the runaway’s aunt said. “That’s all that needs to be said.”
Teen runaway could be in Atmore area
By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
News Staff Writer
Authorities in Baldwin County continued this week their search for a 15-year-old girl who hasn’t been seen since she and another 15-year-old left a Daphne diversion center on March 16.
Deanna Simpson said her niece, Rebekah Bundrum of Daphne, left the Pathway of Baldwin County Juvenile Wilderness Camp with “another girl her age” on that date. The duo could be in the Atmore area, Simpson said.
“She was last supposed to be in that area,” the Georgia woman said.
The teen is 5-feet, 4 inches tall and weighs about 125 pounds. She has “fiery red hair.”
The incident isn’t the first time Rebekah has taken off without permission. According to published reports, Daphne police searched less than a week before locating her after she and another teen ran away from home in September 2020.
Participants are provided individual, group, and family counseling as well as basic living skills education to achieve their individualized treatment goals. The program is licensed by the Alabama Department of Youth Services.
Atmore Police Department Capt. John Stallworth said local authorities have not been notified, by family members or by Baldwin County authorities, that the teen might be in the area.
Still, anyone spotting Rebekah is urged to call Ms. Simpson at 678-281-5322, the girl’s mother at 251-930-3397; the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office (251-972-6802) or authorities in the nearest town or county in which she is spotted.