Runaway teenager stays one step ahead of police
POLICE remain ‘‘one step behind’’ a Kapiti teenager who has been missing for the past two weeks.
Danielle Ellison-Wallace, 14, has not been seen since she ran away from her Paraparaumu caregivers about 8pm on August 8.
Constable Peter Swann, of Kapiti Youth Aid, said police had been visiting her friends’ homes in Christchurch, but had not been able to catch up with her.
‘‘She just likes to move on. It’s like she’s moving from here to there to there, and it’s like we’re just one step behind her.
‘‘She was there last night, but not this morning – it’s like that. She’s a smart girl . . . But we will catch up.’’
Described as a ‘‘regular runaway’’ by police, Danielle has left home several times in the past, although never for such a long time.
‘‘It’s just causing so much stress and strain,’’ Mr Swann said.
‘‘There’s so much time and effort put into finding her, when she could just make a phone call.
‘‘It’s just going to take a bit of time, but we’ll get her. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack.’’
It was frustrating that people in Christchurch were helping her to hide, he said.
But her grandfather, Neil Ellison, of New Plymouth, said she probably did not want to be found, and was
Has blocked her family from her Facebook page. actively avoiding her family. ‘‘Noone has heard from her. Apparently she has been updating her Facebook, but she’s blocked everyone in the family.’’
The family were worried about her safety, he said, although they knew about her history of running away.
‘‘I think everybody is worried about her. She disappears all the time, this is not uncommon. But normally she’s located well before now.
‘‘She’s got her own mind. She probably won’t stay put.’’
Police in Christchurch would continue looking for her today, Mr Swann said. If she had not been found by tonight, detectives would take over for the weekend.