Missing 17-year-old in ‘extreme danger’ may be kept in hiding, Indiana police say
A 17-year-old girl missing for two months may have someone keeping her in hiding, Indiana authorities say.
Valerie Tindall has been missing since June 7 after leaving her home in her green 2000 Honda Accord, according to the Rush County Sheriff’s Office, who said eight days later she “is believed to be in extreme danger.”
The sheriff’s office said in an Aug. 9 update that Valerie remains missing.
“We believe it is possible that Valerie has been receiving aid from individual(s) whose goal is to keep her hidden,” according to the sheriff. “The RCSO is asking that everyone remain vigilant and keep on the lookout for anyone matching Valerie’s description.”
Valerie is described as 5 feet, 6 inches, 162 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. She may be wearing glasses, and it is possible she has changed her appearance.
The U.S. Marshals Service has recently been investigating Valerie’s disappearance, family members say.
“We love her so much it hurts,” Valerie’s mother, Shena Sandefur, told Whitewater Publications in July. “We cry ourselves to sleep and wake up in tears. It is the worst pain you could ever feel. Not knowing why she left like that if she met up with someone and the worst happened.”
Sandefur said she realized after three days that her daughter may have “run away or something terrible had happened,” Whitewater Publications reported.
Valerie turns 18 in August, said her aunt, Precious Miniard.
“For the life of me, I cannot figure out how a 17 year old girl can just go missing. With no trace,” Miniard said in a Facebook post. “I hope & pray that she for some reason ran away. But even then, you’d think there would be SOME KIND of clues as to help us find her. I just don’t understand.”
Anyone with information about Valerie’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Rush County Sheriff’s Office at 765-932-2931.
Rush County is about 50 miles southeast of Indianapolis.
This story was originally published August 15, 2023 at 11:25 AM with the headline "Missing 17-year-old in ‘extreme danger’ may be kept in hiding, Indiana police say."