A 15-year-old girl whose disappearance prompted a public appeal from police in Carbondale, Illinois, has been found safe and returned to her family. Nova J. Phelps was located on Friday, November 13, after authorities asked residents to help find her.
The Carbondale Police Department initially announced that Phelps was missing in a November 13 news release. Officers said they had received information about her disappearance late Thursday night, November 12, at approximately 11:45 p.m.
According to police, Phelps was last seen around 10 a.m. on November 12 in the 1400 block of Old West Main Street in Carbondale. Her disappearance led authorities to seek help from the public as they worked to determine her whereabouts.
Police described Phelps as 5 feet tall and weighing approximately 140 pounds. She has blond hair and hazel eyes.
At the time she was last seen, Phelps was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, a black shirt, black pants and black slides. Authorities shared these details to help anyone who might have seen her recognize her.
The search, however, ended with welcome news. In a follow-up announcement dated November 13, the police department confirmed that Phelps had been located in Carbondale. Officers also reported that she was in good health.
She was subsequently returned to her family, bringing the search to a positive conclusion. Police thanked members of the public for their assistance and support during the effort to locate the teenager.
The department did not provide further details about where Phelps was found or the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. No additional explanation was included in the recovery announcement.
For her family, the most important news was that the 15-year-old had been found alive, was reported to be in good health and was safely back home. The police department expressed its appreciation to everyone who helped during the search.