A 12-year-old girl who went missing on Dec. 12 has been found, authorities said Thursday.

When Siriena Tyrella Wharton, of Old Plantation, was reported missing on Jan. 13, police were informed that she had last been seen on Dec. 12.

She was found on St. Thomas Wednesday evening, according to a Police Information Office press release.

“[She] is now in the safe custody of the Virgin Islands Police Department Juvenile Detention Center,” the release stated. “Both the VIPD and the VI Human and Social Services are presently conducting investigations before her return to the British Virgin Islands.”

News of the missing girl was posted on Facebook by Premier Dr. Orlando Smith, and also popped up on various community pages such as the BVI National Forum and BVI Community Board.

One questioned kept coming up in the public forums: Why wasn’t Siriena’s disappearance reported earlier?

“A whole month and it’s put out to the public now?” Dwayne “Lungz” Woodley wrote on Facebook. “Something ain’t right with this.”

Police followed several lines of inquiry in locating the missing girl, according to Police Information Officer Diane Drayton.

“We are grateful for the public’s assistance,” Ms. Drayton said Thursday.

 

See the Jan. 30, 2014 edition for full coverage.

{fcomment}