Caitlin Winchester, the 14-year-old North Atlanta student who went missing on her first day at school, has been found safe.
Officials say Caitlin was found safe in Arlington, Texas. Her parents, Roger and Angela Winchester, reported her missing when she she did not return home after the first day of school at North Atlanta High on Aug. 5.
The school district said Caitlin never boarded her school bus.
Her parents and family friends initially dismissed reports that Caitlin was a runaway.
Caitlin’s mother is a middle school theology teacher at Notre Dame Academy here in Duluth. Ga.
“Our child is a straight-A student, and she was so excited to start her French 3 class, Angela Winchester said on Friday.
The mother of missing 14-year-old Caitlin Winchester went door-to-door in Buckhead today handing out fliers looking for her daughter who vanished on the way home from school yesterday. Live report at 6 on @cbs46. #Atlanta @apsupdate #Buckhead pic.twitter.com/vQIeqG7l4k
— Adam Murphy (@MurphyCBS46) August 6, 2021
The FBI assisted the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department (APSPD) in the search for Caitlin Winchester when it appeared that she crossed state lines.
“APSPD continues to work with the FBI on the next steps in the investigation. No additional details on this case are available,” a statement from the district read. “No other details are available at this time and the family has requested privacy.”
I wish no harm upon anybody but lets be real about society today & agree that a terrible situation like MISSING ENDANGERED TEENAGER CAITLIN WINCHESTER (14) is going to happen to a family member or friend 1 day & when it hits close to your home/heart you'll beg for a retweet too?? pic.twitter.com/EfQpvctK4J
— @OneJurorMatters (@OneJurorMatters) August 8, 2021
On Tuesday, Aug. 10, Crime Stoppers announced a $100,000 reward after the paperwork was completed by Roger Winchester’s employer, Insight Global, where he works as a senior information security engineer.
The $100,000 reward was previously announced on Friday, Aug. 6. But CBS46 reporter Adam Murphy told a Facebook group that Crime Stoppers said Insight Global did not complete the paperwork to transfer the funds in time.
Confusion reigned on Facebook, where concerned citizens were told their help was not needed to circulate missing posters about Caitlin.
That led to speculation that the parents knew something about their daughter’s disappearance.
The organizer of the Facebook page deleted the comments and wrote:
“THANK YOU, everyone! For your hope, prayers and shares and all of the ways you did or wanted to help find Caitlin. Please continue to pray for the family’s healing as Caitlin comes home.”
