Missing teen found over 150 miles from his SC home, cops say. Now, charges possible
A missing 15-year-old was found “in good health” nearly a week after he disappeared from his South Carolina home, police say.
Aiden Conatser of Aiken was found Monday, July 17, in Rabun County, Georgia — more than 150 miles away, according to news outlets and a Facebook post from the Aiken Department of Public Safety.
The teen was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Investigators didn’t give details on how he got there but said they’re investigating the possibility that he had help running away, news outlets reported.
“There’s a possibility that someone or several people may be charged with assisting him,” Capt. Marty Sawyer told WRDW, noting that police have launched a criminal investigation.
Aiden was last seen around 6:45 a.m. July 12, authorities said.
Investigators called the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office after they got a lead on his whereabouts from a family member who got a call from Aiden, WJBF reported. Deputies found him at a home in Rabun County, about 110 miles northeast of Atlanta near the Georgia-North Carolina line.
“I actually got a phone call this morning that he’d been found, and burst into tears,” Gretchen Iakovidis, a family friend who organized a days-long search for the missing teen, told the station.
Additional details weren’t immediately available.
“The Aiken Department of Public Safety would like to extend a large amount of appreciation to our community for their concern and information that was provided to us throughout this investigation,” police said in a statement, as reported by WFXG.
Aiken is about 60 miles southwest of Columbia.
This story was originally published July 18, 2023 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Missing teen found over 150 miles from his SC home, cops say. Now, charges possible."