UPDATE:
Destiny Ayala-Patterson, a missing 16-year-old, 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, May 8.
News 3 spoke exclusively with Destiny's father, who said, "We're just so thankful that she's okay, that she was found, and they confirmed that she wasn't injured."
Full story here
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
It’s been almost three weeks since 16-year-old Destiny Ayala-Patterson was last seen, according to the Chesapeake Police Department.
However, her family, alongside advocates, held a press conference refuting many statements made by the police department, including the department classifying Destiny as a runaway rather than a missing person.
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During the press conference, 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.
Destiny was last seen on Tuesday, March 28, leaving Indian River High School around 1 p.m., according to CPD. Detectives say she was seen leaving the school and entering a sedan.
However, 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.
He also took aim at Chesapeake Public Schools and claimed that Destiny was missing for her fourth block “with no one questioning her whereabouts.”
“We send our kids to school as a safe haven, and how we get to the point where a child is able to walk out a side door of a high school and get in a car with a stranger, I do not know,” said Randleman.
During the conference, Mr. Randleman made the following claims:
- Destiny had a burner phone because her parents took away her cell phone.
- This is not the first time Destiny has disappeared, and her parents say she has dealt with emotional issues.
- Chesapeake police identified a “mystery man” who picked her up from school and drove her to northern Suffolk. Police have cleared this “mystery man.”
- While Destiny was with the mystery man, she dropped a pin to her friend to share her location, and asked the friend to pick her up.
- The mystery man dropped her off at the gate of his apartment complex and did not drive her back to Chesapeake.
In regard to the mystery man, police previously told us that they found the sedan and questioned the driver.
After Mr. Randleman spoke, Destiny’s parents voiced their worries about their daughter, and said this is completely out of character for their daughter.
“The last time I saw my daughter was on my birthday. It was on March 28. She said ‘happy birthday.’ She said, ‘I love you,’” said Destiny’s father Joe Patterson.
Patterson asked the public to come forward if they have any relevant information on his daughter’s whereabouts.
“I’m just asking, and I’m pleading, if anyone has any information, if there’s anything that anyone can do to help, that they please come forward to help us,” said Patterson.
Chesapeake Public Schools responded to our request for comment, stating that they continue "to assist the police department with this ongoing investigation. We hope for Destiny to be returned home quickly and safely."
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The Chesapeake Police Department also responded to our request for comment. Their statement is as follows:
It was originally reported to police that Destiny left school around 1:00 p.m., as stated in our first Press Release. The investigating Officer quickly established that she left the school on March 28th at 3:10 p.m. This information was relayed to the family. The investigating Officer has been in contact with Destiny’s family. She was reported to us as a runaway. A runaway is listed as a juvenile who leaves of their own free will, [whereas] a missing person is defined as someone who leaves under duress. We have not seen any evidence that she left under any duress. This is still an ongoing investigation, and no one has been cleared at this time.
She does not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert with Virginia State Police.
The investigation is still very much active. Several Officers and Investigators have been involved with this case since the original report was filed.
We ask any persons with information on the location of Destiny to contact police or call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP℠, Submit a tip online at P3TIPS.COM, or on their smart phone on the P3TIPS APP. Callers are never asked to give their name or required to testify in court. If a caller’s tip leads to an arrest, the recovery of drugs, or stolen property they could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1500.
In our Have You Seen Me series, we cover missing persons cases, especially those that don't traditionally get a lot of attention. News 3 anchor Jessica Larché's special reports shine a light on the issue, and as she's reported, just because a child ran away, it does not mean they are not in danger.
We are following this story closely. Stay with News 3 for updates.
