CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Destiny Ayala-Patterson, a missing 16-year-old runaway, was located in Trenton, New Jersey, according to police.
The Chesapeake Police Department says they worked with the U.S. Marshal's Service to safely locate Patterson on Monday.
News 3 reporter Kelsey Jones spoke exclusively to her father, Joseph Patterson about the news.
"We're just so thankful that she's okay, that she was found, and they confirmed that she wasn't injured, Patterson said. " I'm just happy she's okay. She's always going to be our daughter regardless of what happened or what mistakes were made."
Patterson said the first thing he'll do when he sees his daughter is give her a hug.
"...just telling her that she's loved and bringing her home" said Patterson.
Patterson told News 3 he has no idea how his daughter ended up hundreds of miles away in New Jersey. The teen was reported missing back on March 28 after leaving Indian River High School.
Court documents show Destiny was seen getting into a car with a 23-year-old man who was the driver. The man said Destiny told him she was 18 years old. Police spoke with the 23-year-old and he said they hung out at his home in Suffolk.
Records also reveal that she was on an adult dating site.
U.S. Marshals joined the search for Patterson in late April.
"The Chesapeake Police Department reached out to us and from there we found the child. After that we defer back to the states and locals," said Michael Harvat with the U.S Marshals Office. "Our methods are Marshal magic, if you will, but I can tell you it's the usual buzz words and hard work. We just have great investigators."
Harvat didn't want to say how Destiny was found and if she was with anyone. He also could not go into details about their operation.
Her father is just happy she's okay.
"We're going to stand behind her regardless of what happens" said Patterson. "My family is very grateful. I know that News 3 was one of the first stations to pick this story up continuously pushing it even weeks after she was missing to help locate her."
The U.S Marshal's Service is advising parents to be vigilant when it comes to their children and to be overly involved. That way parents are aware what their children are doing online and through social media.
Chesapeake police are coordinating with Child Protective Services to bring Destiny home.
During the press conference on April 18, Brandon Randleman, a local civil rights and social justice activist, voiced concerns about the handling of Destiny’s case.
“A tenth-grader managed to walk out the side door of Chesapeake Public Schools. We’re now in day 20, and again, we’re left with more questions than answers,” said Randleman.
Randleman claims a photo taken from the school’s surveillance camera shows a time stamp indicating that Destiny left school grounds around 3:10 p.m.
You can watch the full press conference below.
Stay with News 3 for updates.
