Hannah McConnell, 13 & Gage Petherbridge, 15[found safe]Vienna Township, MI teens MSG

[Grande]

Vienna Township teens in love missing
Posted by Bryn Mickle | The Flint Journal January 16, 2008 13:30PM

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VIENNA TOWNSHIP. -- A modern-day Romeo and Juliet are the subjects of a nationwide search after they ran away from home early Saturday in a stolen minivan.

This morning, investigators said a tip has led them to believe California is now the couple's most likely destination.

"We have reason to believe they may be in the area of Huntington Beach southwest of Santa Ana on the coastline in Orange County, California," said Genesee County Sheriff's Capt. Chris Swanson.

Hannah McConnell, 13, and her boyfriend, Gage Petherbridge, 15, left notes and journal entries saying they were running away together and have not called home since, their mothers said.
Gage's mother, Mary Wismer, said she awoke about 9:20 a.m. Saturday to find her son, her minivan, and his cocker spaniel, Mandy, gone.

Gage also had taken clothing, some food and his Xbox 360 video game system, Wismer said.

Soon after she realized he was gone, Wismer said, police arrived and said Hannah's parents had just reported her missing.

Wismer said her son, a ninth-grader at Clio High School, left a note apologizing for running away and promised to call.

"My son is very much in love with Hannah," Wismer said.

Hannah's mother, Julie, said her daughter "believes the world revolves" around them.

But Julie McConnell said she is even more worried because Hannah is bi-polar and left her medicine behind. Hannah is an eighth-grader at Carter Middle School.

McConnell said Hannah took $100 from her purse when she left, and Wismer believes Gage has about $580 in cash he got for Christmas.

Neither mother knows where the two were headed, but a journal entry from Hannah mentioned Washington state, said McConnell.

Gage has had his learner's permit since June and had only one more class to take before getting his license when he turns 16, she said. He is a very cautious driver, she said, and had logged about 15 hours of night driving.

"I don't know where they're headed," said McConnell.

Neither teen has run away before, the moms said.

The teens had not called home as of this morning.

A missing persons report was filed with the Genesee County Sheriff's Department, and their names have been entered in a national database.

The white 1997 Pontiac Montana transport van, license plate number 6DYW54, is also in a police database in the event the pair is stopped for a traffic violation.

Wismer said she has also given "missing'' posters to truckers to put in truck stops in and outside of the state.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Genesee County Sheriff's Department at (810) 257-3406.

http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/newsnow/2008/01/vienna_township_teens_in_love.html

[Grande]

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[Grande]

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[Grande]

Hannah;
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=230335285
Gage;
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=138495258

[Roamer]

So very young, and he has no driving experience. Together, they have no life experience. I hope they get home safely.

[Grande]

So very young, and he has no driving experience. Together, they have no life experience. I hope they get home safely.

Me too!

[Grande]

Families still awaiting word about missing teens
Posted by Bryn Mickle | The Flint Journal January 16, 2008 21:00PM

VIENNA TWP. -- The parents of two missing teens are still waiting to hear from them after the pair stole a minivan and disappeared Saturday morning.

Investigators on Wednesday were checking a tip that Hannah McConnell, 13, and her boyfriend, Gage Petherbridge, 15, were headed for the California coastline community of Huntington Beach.

Gage's mother, Mary Wismer, said a family member who lives in California was headed there to post missing fliers about the teens.

A niece in Colorado also was spreading fliers in case the pair headed there to snowboard, said Wismer.

Hannah's mother, Julie, said Wednesday night that she had not heard anything new.

The teens left notes and journal entries saying they were running away together and disappeared with Wismer's minivan and Mandy, Gage's cocker spaniel.

The parents believe the pair had almost $700 in cash and could have been headed to California, Washington state, Nevada or Ohio.

Hannah is bi-polar and left her medication at home, her mother said.

Gage is a ninth-grader at Clio High School while Hannah is an eighth-grader at Carter Middle School.

Their names have been entered in a national database along with the stolen white 1997 Pontiac Montana transport van, license plate number 6DYW54.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Genesee County Sheriff's Department at (810) 257-3406.

http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/newsnow/2008/01/families_still_awaiting_word_a.html

[Grande]

Well, someone has accessed Hannah's MySpace acct. within the last 24 hours.

All they need to do is call home and let their families know they are safe.

Stay safe Hannah & Gage!

[KittyMom]

Well, someone has accessed Hannah's MySpace acct. within the last 24 hours.

All they need to do is call home and let their families know they are safe.

Stay safe Hannah & Gage!

Probaby LE.

How long does it take a bi-polar person to start withdrawing from meds?

[Grande]

Probaby LE.

How long does it take a bi-polar person to start withdrawing from meds?

Not sure on the latter.

[KittyMom]

I really hope they stay safe and when their money runs out they call home.

[packy]

I hope they get home safely too. No telling how far they are by now.

[Kaylynn]

They're both so young, with minimal driving experience. :1222423:Praying they are found safe, and come home soon.

[Grande]

National search is on for missing Clio teens
Lovestruck pair fled Saturday to be together
January 18, 2008
By ANDREA K. FARMER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

The whereabouts of the Flint area runaways who left their homes to start a life together are still unknown.

Gage Petherbridge, 15, and McConnell, 13, both of Clio, fled their homes at 4 a.m. on Saturday in a white, 1997 Pontiac Montana, license plate number 6DYW54. The minivan is registered to Duane Wismer, Petherbridge’s stepfather. The pair has been missing for six days.

Petherbridge, a ninth grader at Clio High School, and McConnell, an eighth grader at Carter Middle School, had restricted contact with each other because their parents felt that they were spending too much time together.

The parents could not be reached for comment.

On his MySpace profile page, Petherbridge (a.k.a. Lotten Cotton) states: “I’m lost without her.”

His profile also declared: “Lotten [♥] Cotton completly inlove with hannah elane mcconnell and no one can ever change that.”

Capt. Chris Swanson of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department reported that letters and diary entries revealed that the couple planned to travel to California to stay with friends they had met through MySpace. The couple planned to stay in Huntington Beach in Orange County, but have not yet arrived.

“Any child that is not of adult age should receive the same kind of attention,” Swanson said. “Every police department in the country knows about this.”

Swanson also mentioned that both sets of parents are justifiably concerned and just want know that the couple is safe. McConnell was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and is without her medication.

“We want her to get stabilized,” Swanson said.

Swanson said he feared that the national attention given to the missing teens might encourage others to follow suit.

“I don’t want to build this up any more than it is,” Swanson said.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080118/NEWS06/80118033

[Sumanadevii]

What a nightmare for their families! They have no idea of what their parents are going though....I have always said good kids can do stupid things and this is one of them. I sure hope someone spots them and calls it in. They are far too young to be "out" there without the support of their parents. I can't even imagine ....

[KittyMom]

I hope these myspace "friends" are real teens.

[Roamer]

Good point, KM. These two don't know how to make a living, once the money runs out. There are so many predators these days, just waiting to make money and exploit innocent kids like this.

[Grande]

Possible lead comes in missing teens case
Friday, January 18, 2008 | 7:45 PM
Activity found on MySpace page
By Lori Dougovito

CLIO (WJRT) -- (01/18/08)--A promising lead came Friday in the search for two missing Mid-Michigan teens. One of their MySpace pages showed activity.

The couple is from the Clio area.

Hannah McConnell, 13, and 15-year-old Gage Petherbridge were last seen last Friday. Their parents say they took cash, clothes and Petherbridge's dog and family minivan.

The Genesee County Sheriff's Department is now working with MySpace to find the terminal used to do whatever was done on McConnell's page.

http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=5900514

[Grande]

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[Grande]

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[KittyMom]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080119/NEWS06/80119038

January 19, 2008

BY GINA DAMRON

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

A 13-year-old Vienna Township teen, who ran off with her 15-year-old boyfriend and has been missing for a week, made a call to a friend today from motel in Nevada, family members of the boyfriend said today.

[Roamer]

I'm glad to hear they're still okay. The families must be overjoyed.

[Sumanadevii]

The article said the kids called on Wednesday...this is Saturday. I hope they are still okay. They said they were running low on money...$600.00 in less than a week...I wonder what they are spending it on?

[Roamer]

They're both so very young, that $600 probably seemed like a lot to them, so they probably spent freely, without worrying about how much anything cost.

I hope they can trace the call and find them soon.

ETA This was featured on GMA this morning. Maybe national attention will bring them home.

[Sumanadevii]

I think by today these little ones have to be broke...all the money spent...I hope it puts enough pressure on them to contact someone at home....

[KittyMom]

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/01/21/runaway_teen_couple_place_call_from_nevada/8134/

FLINT, Mich., Jan. 21 (UPI) -- A cell phone call traced to somewhere in Nevada has given authorities a lead in the disappearance of a teenage couple from Flint, Mich.

McConnell's family said police notified them she called a friend in California late Friday night or early Saturday. The call was traced to a location somewhere in Nevada.

McConnell's family said they were worried about her safety, since she is bipolar, has attempted suicide, and did not take her medication with her, the newspaper said.

[Sumanadevii]

These kids clearly have to be out of money...the more days that pass the more worried I become....

[Roamer]

I haven't found it online yet, but heard on the morning news that they have been found. Still looking for a link.

[Roamer]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/21/earlyshow/main3734447.shtml

(CBS/AP) A nationwide search has ended safely for a 15-year-old boy and his 13-year-old girlfriend, who turned up in Louisiana nine days after fleeing their Michigan homes in the boy's family minivan.

Hannah McConnell and Gage Petherbridge were found Monday in Cameron Parish, Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell told WJRT-TV and The Flint Journal.

The boyfriend and girlfriend were playing with seagulls on a Gulf of Mexico beach, just east of the Texas state line, authorities say.

An ambulance driver recognized the teens in Holly Beach on Monday afternoon and called police. The Cameron Parish sheriff's department got a tip Monday that the teens had been spotted in the area Sunday afternoon.

Gage and Hannah apparently realized they were being watched and tried to drive away, but a police officer stopped them.

Gage's stepfather, Duane Wismer, said he was relieved the ordeal was over.

"It's awesome," Wismer told The Detroit News Monday evening for an online story. "They're safe and they're not going anywhere. That's all we can ask for."

"We've overjoyed," Hannah's mother, Julie McConnell, told the Detroit Free Press. "I don't know the details but we're told they're safe. I can't tell you how thrilled we are."

On Jan. 12, the teens left their homes in Vienna Township, about 65 miles north-northwest of Detroit. They took Gage's family van, his cocker spaniel Mandy and about $680 in cash. Gage has a learner's permit.

Pickell said authorities used clues from a phone call to a friend and a recent update to Hannah's MySpace page. Wismer said the dog also is safe.

Hannah, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after attempting suicide, did not have her medication with her, said her mother, Julie McConnell, before the teens were found.

Hannah ominously wrote in her journal that she wanted to end it all and that she wanted to spend her last few days with Gage.

Petherbridge's mother, Mary Wismer, appearing earlier on CBS's Early Show, said that Hannah called a Michigan friend on Saturday, telling him she and Gage were at a motel in Nevada and were running low on money.

"This has been portrayed as puppy love. It's not," Veronica McConnell, Hannah's 27-year-old sister, told The Detroit News on Friday. "It's more like Romeo and Juliet. These are kids who need help because the only way they may see out is to end it all."

Before the teens were found, Gage's parents said their son was trying to protect Hannah.

"I, with 100 percent certainty, know that he's going to help her through it," Wismer told Early Show co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez. "He's tried to help her over the past months with issues she's been having, problems. And he truly believes in his heart that he is the only person who can help her through. And he's looking out for her. He's not going to let her harm herself. I can say that for certain."

[Sumanadevii]

Thankfully!!!!! I just hope their families do not try to split them up again. I think the families need to meet together with the kids and lay down some rules but allow them time together. If not, if fear another run away...more dangerous than this last trip....

[Kami]

Just seen this on our local news this morning. I'm glad to hear they are safe.

[KittyMom]

Facing the music now, uh. They should be thankful they have parents who cared enough to bother to look.

[Grande]

WHAT A RELIEF!!

Sumanadevii,

I think what you have suggested is probably a wise decision given the lengths the two have show they will go to.

Their safe return makes my day!