The parents of a Bellevue teenager who ran away with a 16-year-old boy to Indiana apologized Friday for their daughter's actions and said the girl will seek counseling when she returns home.
Michaela Wells, 16, was in the custody of the Indiana Department of Child Services until authorities can take her back to Nebraska.
"We would like to apologize as parents for our daughter's choice in choosing to run away and thus causing significant worry in communities and uncertainty about the safety of their own children," Theresa and Bruce Norris said on Facebook.
"We believe Michaela will come to realize this as well when she arrives home and makes her own apology, too."
Michaela was found safe about 8:20 p.m. Thursday in the Indianapolis-area residence of a boy she knows. She had been missing for about four days.
Her parents said Michaela will face consequences for her actions. They said they have withdrawn their daughter from her Miss Nebraska Teen title with USA National Miss.
Michaela signed up to represent Nebraska in the pageant, a relatively new pageant that hasn't yet had a Nebraska competition.
Bruce Norris said he and his family had not yet spoken to Michaela on the phone. He said he didn't know when she would arrive home.
The FBI and Indiana authorities assisted in finding the girl. Detectives found information on one of Michaela's electronic devices that indicated she may be in Indiana, said Officer Laurie Synowiecki, spokeswoman for the Bellevue Police Department.
A decision on whether criminal charges will be filed in the case is pending, Synowiecki said.
Michaela was found in Lawrence, Ind., the Indianapolis Star reported.
Theresa Norris said Michaela had never visited the Indianapolis area and didn't know of any friends she had there. She described her daughter, who is home-schooled, as a homebody who has not been to more than a handful of sleepovers.
"She usually likes to think things through a little bit," Norris said earlier this week. "I mean, she is a teenager, what teenager isn't impulsive? But I don't consider her a risk taker."
Michaela had last been seen about 8:30 p.m. Sunday at her Bellevue home. She told her grandmother she was taking out the trash but did not return.
Michaela is a member of Creighton University's College of Business Youth Leadership Omaha program and Nebraska's Youth Leadership Council. She plans to major in international business in college, her mother said.
The girl keeps a busy schedule and spends much of her time volunteering and raising awareness for a rare food allergy that her brother has called FPIES, or food protein-induced enterocolitis.
On the weekends, Michaela likes to go to the rollerskating rink with her friends, Theresa Norris said. She enjoys archery and dancing and looks forward to attending a Middle Ages and Renaissance Fair with her family every summer.
Michaela Wells, 16, was in the custody of the Indiana Department of Child Services until authorities can take her back to Nebraska.
"We would like to apologize as parents for our daughter's choice in choosing to run away and thus causing significant worry in communities and uncertainty about the safety of their own children," Theresa and Bruce Norris said on Facebook.
"We believe Michaela will come to realize this as well when she arrives home and makes her own apology, too."
Michaela was found safe about 8:20 p.m. Thursday in the Indianapolis-area residence of a boy she knows. She had been missing for about four days.
Her parents said Michaela will face consequences for her actions. They said they have withdrawn their daughter from her Miss Nebraska Teen title with USA National Miss.
Michaela signed up to represent Nebraska in the pageant, a relatively new pageant that hasn't yet had a Nebraska competition.
Bruce Norris said he and his family had not yet spoken to Michaela on the phone. He said he didn't know when she would arrive home.
The FBI and Indiana authorities assisted in finding the girl. Detectives found information on one of Michaela's electronic devices that indicated she may be in Indiana, said Officer Laurie Synowiecki, spokeswoman for the Bellevue Police Department.
A decision on whether criminal charges will be filed in the case is pending, Synowiecki said.
Michaela was found in Lawrence, Ind., the Indianapolis Star reported.
Theresa Norris said Michaela had never visited the Indianapolis area and didn't know of any friends she had there. She described her daughter, who is home-schooled, as a homebody who has not been to more than a handful of sleepovers.
"She usually likes to think things through a little bit," Norris said earlier this week. "I mean, she is a teenager, what teenager isn't impulsive? But I don't consider her a risk taker."
Michaela had last been seen about 8:30 p.m. Sunday at her Bellevue home. She told her grandmother she was taking out the trash but did not return.
Michaela is a member of Creighton University's College of Business Youth Leadership Omaha program and Nebraska's Youth Leadership Council. She plans to major in international business in college, her mother said.
The girl keeps a busy schedule and spends much of her time volunteering and raising awareness for a rare food allergy that her brother has called FPIES, or food protein-induced enterocolitis.
On the weekends, Michaela likes to go to the rollerskating rink with her friends, Theresa Norris said. She enjoys archery and dancing and looks forward to attending a Middle Ages and Renaissance Fair with her family every summer.
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LostNMissing Inc.
www.lostnmissing.com
LostNMissing Inc., is an all-volunteer national tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "code") and qualifies as a public supported organization under Sections, or Categories: P99 (Human Services - Multipurpose and Other N.E.C.); M99 (Other Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness, and Relief N.E.C.); I01 (Alliance/Advocacy Organizations). LostNMissing is organized and incorporated under the laws of the State of New Hampshire. We never charge a fee for our services.
LostNMissing Inc.
www.lostnmissing.com
LostNMissing Inc., is an all-volunteer national tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "code") and qualifies as a public supported organization under Sections, or Categories: P99 (Human Services - Multipurpose and Other N.E.C.); M99 (Other Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness, and Relief N.E.C.); I01 (Alliance/Advocacy Organizations). LostNMissing is organized and incorporated under the laws of the State of New Hampshire. We never charge a fee for our services.
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