IOWA (WKZO AM/FM) A 16-year-old Junior at Saugatuck High who got on a bus and left for Iowa after chatting with an unknown individual on the Kik messaging app has been located in Iowa.
Michigan State Police from the Wayland Post, with the assistance of the Iowa State University Campus Police were able to locate 16 year old Joy Dene Martin Monday evening on campus at Iowa State in Ames, Iowa.
She was found in good health. Preliminary investigation showed that Joy Martin left voluntarily from her home in Fennville Michigan sometime Saturday. She befriended an individual on KIK, a text messenger app, prior to leaving. Arrangements have been made to reconnect her with her family.
The incident remains under investigation and the Michigan State Police is working in conjunction with authorities at Iowa State. Michigan State Police would like to remind and encourage parents to stay informed and be involved with electronic media their children use.
Additional information about the person she was in contact with has not been released.
ORIGINAL STORY:
HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – An Endangered Missing Advisory (EMA) has been issued today, March 20, for a 16-year-old female named Joy Dene Martin who was last seen in the Saugatuck area.
Michigan State Police say Martin left home voluntarily after corresponding with an unknown person on the KIK messenger app. She may have left the state via Greyhound.
Martin is 5’6 and 180 pounds with blonde hair and blue yes. She left with bags of packed clothing and has a diamond stud nose piercing.
Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the Michigan State Police Wayland Post at 269-792-2213.
The EMA is used for cases involving missing persons that DO NOT meet the AMBER Alert criteria. The EMA can be utilized for endangered missing persons of all ages. The EMA is a notification sent via email to media in the affected geographic region(s) with information about an endangered missing person, in hopes the media will publicize the information in an effort to enlist the public’s help in locating the missing person.
