N.J. Teen Who Tweeted 'Call 911' Before Disappearing Found
CLARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - Kara Alongi is back at home.
Clark Police Chief Alan Scherb said 16-year-old Alongi was found walking along the side of the Turnpike near Exit 1. She was taken to a hospital for an evaluation and reunited with her family, who have since taken her home.
WCBS 880's Levon Putney reports
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Officers are continuing to piece the case together to answer some lingering questions, "as to where she was, what means of transportation did she use and obviously why she sent out that tweet that went worldwide," Scherb told reporters including WCBS 880's Levon Putney.
"We will have her in for a full-length statement," as part of the investigation, Scherb added. "Possible charges can be filed on this."
Alongi set off an intense search - and social media firestorm - after posting a message to her Twitter account that read "There is somone in my hour ecall 911" Sunday night at 6:20 p.m.
The message prompted the hashtag "helpfindkara" to trend on the social network, and caused some 6,000 calls to 911.
"As you could see here, it snowballed and a lot of manpower was wasted on leads that we had to follow up on where we could have been down the right path," Scherb said.
Investigators discovered someone called for a taxi at Alongi's address at around the same time the message was posted. On Tuesday, police released a photo of Alongi at the Rahway train station, carrying a backpack. Police said she bought a ticket to Penn Station.
"I would like to thanks Chief Alan Scherb and all the members of the Clark Police Department, the New Jersey State Police and all the other agencies in New Jersey for the concern and help over the past several days," said Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso. "I am especially happy that the Alongi family has been reunited with their daughter, and I ask all citizens of Clark and members of the media to respect their privacy in the upcoming days and weeks."
