DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A 13-year-old Daytona Beach girl whose disappearance sparked a statewide alert has been found safe, according to the police department.
Jaylen Glass was reported missing Tuesday after she left the campus of David C. Hinson Sr. Middle School in Daytona Beach. After a news conference with Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young, the department shared on social media on Wednesday that the girl was found “safe and sound" in Marion County.
“We appreciate everyone who reached out! Your collective efforts exemplify the strength of our community,” police said.
Young said during Wednesday’s news conference that the girl left the school just before 12:30 p.m. and that police were made aware of a “concerning internet search” on a school computer.
Before she left, Jaylen had been in the school office for a disciplinary issue when she asked to leave to get some water, Young said. The chief said surveillance cameras showed the girl leave the campus.
“We believe she’s being assisted and that someone is helping her to hide out,” he said. “I want to make it clear that if you’re hiding out this young lady, you will be facing criminal charges. Her family is extremely worried about her and they want her home, and they want her home safely.”
Jaylen’s father, Darian Glass, pleaded for his daughter’s safe return.
“We’re not mad at you, we just want to know that you’re safe,” he said. “... There’s nothing you could have done that would change that, and we love you more than anything.”
Young said there was no suspicion of foul play. He also said despite Jaylen not having a cellphone to track, there were other methods to search for the girl.
“Different things, such as social media, and we know she was active at one point on social media, so we’re running down leads such as that,” he said.
The department had conducted interviews, canvassed with a helicopter, searched nearby neighborhoods and more in search of the girl.
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