SALT LAKE CITY -- Lone Peak Police Department officials have located a 16-year-old girl who was reported as a runaway earlier this month, and her family said their daughter faced danger due to people she met on Facebook.
According to a press release from the Lone Peak Public Safety District Police Department, Indica Huddleston was located at about 5:45 p.m. Friday in the Salt Lake Valley.
Bryan and Andrea Huddleston told Fox 13 News on Saturday that they really can't go into details about their daughter's 8-day absence because a criminal investigation is under way.
The Huddlestons said their daughter added some "friends" on Facebook who turned out to be dangerous. She interacted with some of them for several months before she ran away, they claim.
"It's hard to look in the mirror," Andrea Huddleston said. "It's easy to want to blame someone else for what's going on, but that is not going to fix it."
The Huddlestons say they plan to become more involved with their children's social lives, especially online. They said they will keep closer tabs on who their children are befriending.
Bryan Huddleston said they are still working on getting answers, and he said they've been asked to keep quiet about the case as the investigation continues.
"We don't know all the facts," he said. "There is an ongoing police investigation, a criminal investigation. And it's been requested that we not comment about that."
Indica had been listed by police as a runaway, but her parents thought it was possible she was being held against her will.
Andrea Huddleston said they are grateful for those who helped them during this difficult time.
"We're just so grateful, and so happy, it's just really overwhelming," she said. "I have nothing but gratitude. You know, there are a lot of bad things out in the world, but I have seen more good in the last six days than I knew existed. I have been blown away by the kindness and commitment of so many people who literally dropped everything to help us find our daughter."
Lone Peak police officials said in the release they would like to thank the FBI for their assistance in the case. They also thanked the other people and agencies that helped locate the teen.
