sarahhod
12-08-2008, 09:56 AM
Search for Thacher students called off
Teens likely ran away, authorities say
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/dec/08/search-for-thacher-students-called-off/
Monday, December 8, 2008
The search for two teens missing from The Thacher School near Ojai was called off Sunday afternoon, as authorities presumed the students had run away and school officials tried to grasp reasons for their disappearance.
The teens have been identified as George Nicholas Skan, a 16-year-old boy, and Tyler Collins Cook, a 17-year-old girl. The search ended about 2:30 Sunday afternoon, said Ventura County Sheriff's Department Capt. Patti Salas. "They have searched everything they possibly could."
Authorities concluded that the missing teens, last seen at the coeducational boarding high school at 9 p.m. Friday, and presumed runaway at 10 a.m. Saturday, are no longer in the area. Salas urged the teenagers to contact their parents, the school or the Sheriff's Department.
"We've tried to locate them, but there's not a lot more we can do if they don't want to make themselves known," she said. "It's important that they know they're not in trouble. We just want to make sure they're fine."
The pair are romantically involved and failed to appear for check-in at 10:30 p.m. Friday, according to a letter sent by Peter G. Robinson, assistant head of school, to parents of students.
After the students did not check in, advisers, administrators and seniors searched the campus, fields, outbuildings and trails, according to the letter. At 1 a.m., the parents were notified, and by 3 a.m., the search stopped and everyone went to bed, Robinson wrote.
On Saturday morning, police were notified, according to the letter. An extensive air and ground search ensued, involving sheriff's helicopters, a volunteer search and rescue team and bloodhounds, authorities said. The search continued Sunday in the wooded areas around the school.
"We have interviewed friends of both students but have not developed a clear notion of why they might have left the campus and where they might have headed," Robinson wrote.
While the teens were considered strong and healthy, they were not dressed for the weather, and do not have extensive resources at their disposal, authorities said.
Cook, who is 5-foot-6 and weighs 140 pounds, has brown hair and eyes. She was last seen wearing fuzzy slippers, a gray hat, a dark blue and green poncho, a brown turtleneck and blue jeans with white paint on them. She is from New York.
Skan, who is 6-foot-1 and weighs 170 pounds, has brown hair and eyes, and was wearing a red T-shirt and sneakers with the word "money" on them. He is from Alaska.
Anyone with information about the teenagers can contact The Thacher School at 798-7583.
Teens likely ran away, authorities say
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/dec/08/search-for-thacher-students-called-off/
Monday, December 8, 2008
The search for two teens missing from The Thacher School near Ojai was called off Sunday afternoon, as authorities presumed the students had run away and school officials tried to grasp reasons for their disappearance.
The teens have been identified as George Nicholas Skan, a 16-year-old boy, and Tyler Collins Cook, a 17-year-old girl. The search ended about 2:30 Sunday afternoon, said Ventura County Sheriff's Department Capt. Patti Salas. "They have searched everything they possibly could."
Authorities concluded that the missing teens, last seen at the coeducational boarding high school at 9 p.m. Friday, and presumed runaway at 10 a.m. Saturday, are no longer in the area. Salas urged the teenagers to contact their parents, the school or the Sheriff's Department.
"We've tried to locate them, but there's not a lot more we can do if they don't want to make themselves known," she said. "It's important that they know they're not in trouble. We just want to make sure they're fine."
The pair are romantically involved and failed to appear for check-in at 10:30 p.m. Friday, according to a letter sent by Peter G. Robinson, assistant head of school, to parents of students.
After the students did not check in, advisers, administrators and seniors searched the campus, fields, outbuildings and trails, according to the letter. At 1 a.m., the parents were notified, and by 3 a.m., the search stopped and everyone went to bed, Robinson wrote.
On Saturday morning, police were notified, according to the letter. An extensive air and ground search ensued, involving sheriff's helicopters, a volunteer search and rescue team and bloodhounds, authorities said. The search continued Sunday in the wooded areas around the school.
"We have interviewed friends of both students but have not developed a clear notion of why they might have left the campus and where they might have headed," Robinson wrote.
While the teens were considered strong and healthy, they were not dressed for the weather, and do not have extensive resources at their disposal, authorities said.
Cook, who is 5-foot-6 and weighs 140 pounds, has brown hair and eyes. She was last seen wearing fuzzy slippers, a gray hat, a dark blue and green poncho, a brown turtleneck and blue jeans with white paint on them. She is from New York.
Skan, who is 6-foot-1 and weighs 170 pounds, has brown hair and eyes, and was wearing a red T-shirt and sneakers with the word "money" on them. He is from Alaska.
Anyone with information about the teenagers can contact The Thacher School at 798-7583.