'Situation Could Have Ended Differently': Missing Miami Girl Chloe Maarouf Found Safe
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Miami Police have found a missing 13-year-old girl who had reportedly threatened to kill herself.
Police say she was not harmed after disappearing from her family's apartment around 2:00 a.m. Monday and was found at Jackson North Medical Center after taking an Uber ride share car to get there.
They also say the story raises larger concerns about what parents can do to head off such situations before they occur. They also moved swiftly in this case after the child's mother said her daughter threatened to take her own life.
Miami Police had put out a flyer about Chloe Maarouf. They considered the 5'4", 110-pound girl an endangered female.
Police spokeswoman Kiara Delva told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "The mother did report that her daughter had threatened to kill herself, so we considered her an endangered female and that's why we want anyone who recognized her to call 911. Detectives are worried about her safety and Chloe if you are watching, call the police. We have resources to deal with what is going on. We are here to help, and we don't want her doing anything that would devastate her family. Detectives will work around the clock."
Delva said surveillance tape captured Maarouf in a stairwell at the apartment building at 117 S.W. 10th St.
Shortly after midday, a family member told D'Oench that Maarouf had been found and Delva said she was located at Jackson North Medical Center at N.W. 1st Avenue and 170th Street in North Miami Beach.
Delva said police detectives scoured the area where the girl disappeared and checked local hospitals.
"Detectives took this a step further and started contacting JMH North at which time she was located there," said Delva. "When officers arrived there, they made contact with the staff and later determined she Ubered herself there to receive some medical attention."
Delva said, "We are extremely grateful because this situation could have ended differently. We are thankful she did take it on herself to get assistance but at the same time this was very dangerous because she did Uber herself to the hospital and she is underage, and she is vulnerable and a very petite girl."
Delva urges parents to be proactive.
If their children are missing, she says they should contact police immediately. And if they have concerns about the possibility of their children running away, they should contact the police. They have resources like counseling programs that can help.
There is also the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Police could not say if there has been an increase in the past year in the number of missing children.
But Delva said Miami Police are going to be even more proactive in asking for the public's help when children are missing, and put out more flyers as reports come in.
