‘Our community brought Ronan back’
Missing for more than a week, Avon High School student is heading home, family friend reports
After disappearing mysteriously Aug. 30 and prompting a large community vigil, 17-year-old Avon High School student Ronan Hernsdorf-smith surfaced Thursday afternoon and is on the way home, a family friend reported.
“Ronan is safe!,” Carrie Firestone wrote on Facebook. “They saw the news and found a way to reach mom and they are on the way home! That’s all we know, but our community brought Ronan back.”
Kelly Hernsdorf, mother of the transgender teenager, texted Firestone around 2 p.m.
“She wrote ‘They saw the news, found a way to call me,’ “Firestone said later. “She’s driving there. That’s all we know so far, but Ronan is safe.”
Firestone said she has no indication of where the teenager had been, or specifically where Hernsdorf was driving. The family will want some time alone before saying more about what happened, Firestone said.
Hernsdorf-smith’s disappearance led to a community campaign that widened with each day. Avon police assigned numerous detectives to work on the case, and brought in the FBI on Wednesday to analyze the teen’s laptop.
More than 200 people showed up on the Avon town green on Wednesday evening for a vigil, and donors contributed more than $25,000 to a Gofundme campaign to hire a private detective to help the investigation.
At the vigil on Wednesday evening, Avon High School senior Lex Allen fought back tears while describing Hernsdorf-smith.
“I always respected and admired their ability to be seen as so boldly different from everyone around them,” Allen said. “I would always smile to see them walk the halls of Avon High at 7 a.m. in four-inch high platforms and full makeup.”
Hernsdorf-smith left school Aug. 30 and went in an Uber to Enfield to meet an acquaintance, and wasn’t heard from again until Thursday. The teenager’s phone and debit card weren’t used after Aug. 30, investigators said.
“We know Ronan is not the type of teen to run away or break rules. Ronan would never have gotten into an Uber on their own — we know it’s just not how Ronan is,” Firestone told the vigil.
Avon police went to several communities checking with people who knew the teenager, and Enfield police searched for the acquaintance.
“When anyone feels alone, we as a community need to make sure we’re the light that we need to be to walk people home safely — whether that’s back into the fold of family or to a safe place where everyone can be their best self,” Rev. Chris Solimene, pastor of the Avon Congregational Church, told the rally.
Solimene’s church hosted an Avon Pride family picnic in June.
“One of my best recent memories of Ronan is our Pride picnic,” Firestone said. “I remember how happy Ronan was, just glowing to feel seen and heard and be with friends and community.”
Allen said she always admired Hernsdorf-smith, saying “Ronan has touched our lives so deeply. Despite their somewhat intimidating Gothic appearance, anyone who spoke with them for longer than a second would know they are soft-hearted, kind and a truly wonderful individual.”
Kelly Hernsdorf said Wednesday night that her child would be pleased to see the community turnout.
“For anyone who doesn’t know Ronan and how great they are, just go look on their Instagram page — the one line they have on there — ‘There’s always someone out there who cares.’ And that’s so true,” Hernsdorf said. “Just look at everyone who’s here.”
Firestone said Thursday afternoon that she plans to research ways to help families of other missing Connecticut children and then donate the Gofundme proceeds.
“We want a way to help find other missing children. That’s the plan. I’ll take a little time to assess how to maximize the money for other families who are going through this torture,” she said. “There are so many kids vulnerable and missing right now.”