Missing teen is found in Greenville
By John Joyce
Published in News on October 30, 2015 1:46 PM
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Margaret Lee Clayton
A Greenville teen missing since Monday evening is back with her family this morning.
Greenville authorities say 19-year-old Margaret Lee Clayton was taken to Vidant Medical Center as a precaution, but the developmentally challenged girl appeared to be OK.
"Obviously she is hungry, she is tired, but she is expected to be OK," Greenville Police Department Public Information Officer Kristen Hunter said via the department's Facebook page.
A family located Ms. Clayton hiding in some shrubs outside a Chili's restaurant in the Greenville Target shopping center at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The family immediately recognized her and called 911. They waited with her until first responders arrived.
"Margaret Lee has told us that she did run away from home. Right now the reasons for her running away are not clear, but that really doesn't matter," Hunter said.
Ms. Clayton first disappeared late Monday evening after walking away from her home on Queen Anne's Road in Greenville. The local police department and several surrounding law enforcement agencies joined the search. Community members banded together to help out as K-9 units from state and local agencies combed through neighborhoods and wooded areas, but Ms. Clayton's scent trail went cold within a mile of her home.
For three days there were no sightings, no phone calls, no leads for police to go on.
Based on that lack of tips, authorities believe Ms. Clayton was likely in the bushes the entire time she was missing, Hunter said.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office was just one of the many state and local agencies that pitched in with the search effort.
Sheriff Larry Pierce said the Greenville Police Department requested the assistance of the Airwatch unit -- the sheriff's department helicopter unit outfitted with thermal imaging equipment -- but bad weather prevented the two-man team from flying.
"We did have a K-9 unit to go out there and assist, but as far as the helicopter, it was too overcast that day for them to fly," Pierce said. A N.C. Highway Patrol helicopter was called in instead, but to no avail.
In the end, Ms. Clayton was found by a family who had gone out to dinner and happened to look out the window.