Runaway Teens Found Safe In Louisiana

Bipolar Girl And Boyfriend From Michigan Had Fled In Minivan With $680, Xbox, Cocker Spaniel

(CBS/AP)  A nationwide search has ended safely for a 15-year-old boy and his 13-year-old girlfriend, who turned up in Louisiana nine days after fleeing their Michigan homes in the boy's family minivan.

Hannah McConnell and Gage Petherbridge were found Monday in Cameron Parish, Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell told WJRT-TV and The Flint Journal.

The boyfriend and girlfriend were playing with seagulls on a Gulf of Mexico beach, just east of the Texas state line, authorities say.

An ambulance driver recognized the teens in Holly Beach on Monday afternoon and called police. The Cameron Parish sheriff's department got a tip Monday that the teens had been spotted in the area Sunday afternoon.

Gage and Hannah apparently realized they were being watched and tried to drive away, but a police officer stopped them.

Gage's stepfather, Duane Wismer, said he was relieved the ordeal was over.

"It's awesome," Wismer told The Detroit News Monday evening for an online story. "They're safe and they're not going anywhere. That's all we can ask for."

"We've overjoyed," Hannah's mother, Julie McConnell, told the Detroit Free Press. "I don't know the details but we're told they're safe. I can't tell you how thrilled we are."

On Jan. 12, the teens left their homes in Vienna Township, about 65 miles north-northwest of Detroit. They took Gage's family van, his cocker spaniel Mandy and about $680 in cash. Gage has a learner's permit.

Pickell said authorities used clues from a phone call to a friend and a recent update to Hannah's MySpace page. Wismer said the dog also is safe.

Hannah, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after attempting suicide, did not have her medication with her, said her mother, Julie McConnell, before the teens were found.

Hannah ominously wrote in her journal that she wanted to end it all and that she wanted to spend her last few days with Gage.

Petherbridge's mother, Mary Wismer, appearing earlier on CBS's Early Show, said that Hannah called a Michigan friend on Saturday, telling him she and Gage were at a motel in Nevada and were running low on money.

"This has been portrayed as puppy love. It's not," Veronica McConnell, Hannah's 27-year-old sister, told The Detroit News on Friday. "It's more like Romeo and Juliet. These are kids who need help because the only way they may see out is to end it all."

Before the teens were found, Gage's parents said their son was trying to protect Hannah.

"I, with 100 percent certainty, know that he's going to help her through it," Wismer told Early Show co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez. "He's tried to help her over the past months with issues she's been having, problems. And he truly believes in his heart that he is the only person who can help her through. And he's looking out for her. He's not going to let her harm herself. I can say that for certain."

[Krazcarl]

These were probably perfectly good parents I was raised in a spare the rod spoil the child home and was frightened of mine {I was not abused by my parents} it has had dramatic efects on me in life mostly not good, I do not recomend it.

[bb19631]

Thank God they have been found. Anything could of happened to these kids, lots of sicko''s out there. Louisiana, of all the places to go!! Why, there? She needs to get back on her meds and start thinking rationally.

[bobnjersey]

did they find the xbox too?

[formrusmcsgt]

What''s a 15 year-old boy doing with 600+ bucks on him?

Why does a 13 year-old girl have a boyfriend?

Parents of both of these kids are asking for trouble.

[formrusmcsgt]

parent need to be easy on their kids.

Posted by nhimai1997 at 12:19 PM : Jan 22, 2008

I''m not sure what you mean by "easy" here.

It appears to me that most parents are too easy on their kids as it is.

[newsjunky5]

The Gulf of Mexico is a polluted, sour, briney mess, it''s no place to play on the beach. Good thing Sheriff Pickell happened by.

[nhimai1997]

parent need to be easy on their kids. my parents hated everyone i brought home as a teen

[maddigiacona]

trbl24u, ITS PRETTY OBVIOUS AshlynnK1 DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE ABOUT PARENTING... AshlynnK1, do you even have children? I am glad the teens are alive and doing well. This incident "could have" ended alot worse. Good Luck to all involved.

[maddigiacona]

'''' .. if only 1% of folk are like little girls hiking bussing sick bed to sick bed to spoil all rotten and to dance get well feed world get sick tax world hike naked dance dressed porn songs, then life would be perfect, instead, 99% of folok are like little girls hiking bussing sick bed to sick bed to spoil all rotten and to dance get well feed world get sick tax world hike naked dance dressed porn songs, and life is 99% more than perfect .. ''''
PLEASE CLARIFY!!! I AM A BIT CONFUSED WITH THIS STATEMENT...ALSO, CHECK YOUR SPELLING FOR MISTAKES.

[xounds]

Thank Zeus the cocker spaniel was found safe.

[Krazcarl]

What is all this talk about the young mans hair when i was much younger I wore my hair long it was the style of the day as long as he keeps it clean it''s no ones business young fellow just trying to show his independance and be cool didn''t we all at 15. Rather see a wanna be hippie than a skinhead.

[jetlizhan]

so sad to think at age 13 you think you have so many problems that you want to kill yourself. i wish these troubled kids the best and hope they get the help they need.

[ashlynnk1]

I can''t believe all the publicity these kids received. Come on......2 kids running away? Sounds like the girl wanted some attention and the boy has some puppy love inside him. I''m glad not to hear about it anymore. There are more important things in the world going on right now rather then these 2 kids needing some attention.

[michellem99-2009]

Gramma yer may be right..
GET A BLOODY HAIRCUT...VERY BRIT..THIS IS AN AMERICAN BOY...I have my views the barber..Maybe the girl''s parents made an issue of the boy''s hair and that could have drove her out of the home..Years ago my late foster mother called a boy with long hair a girl.

[Wookiee-1138]

I wish her and her gentleman friend all the best. Just tell him to get a bloody haircut.

[grammawhamma]

They were found on the beach playing with seagulls. Sounds like she was doing fine without her medications to me. I hope the parents don''t refuse to let them see each other...that''s probably what started the whole talk of suicide in the first place. Good luck to both kids.

[usakousagi]

They had $800

[slim1h2o]

Me and you and a dog named Boo,
traveling and a living off the land,
Me and you and a dog named Boo,
How I love being a free man!

Posted by Klingon69 at 06:03 PM : Jan 21, 2008

Thats Lobo,,,great song,,,what the h3ll does that have with this story?

[michellem99-2009]

sorry I did not, true the girl should not have run off with another kid if yer can call him that. The parents I don''t know. The sad thing they will be homeless and no place to turn.Alot of young folks don''t plan ahead. The kids think their is a greener place but there is not. I hope they are found and more than any thing this this used as teaching the the bad side of running away. Alot of kids run to Seattle thinking their pot of gold is here. I really don''t think they will stay together. She may be pretty. But face it a kid.She has no education like high sxhool grad. No skills. No means of support. Too young to rent an apt..ON and on.. crzmeat we are old paws..I feel for the girl..I have seen girls that have the body of an adult but their mind is not..God be on her side..It was crazy to take off with someone yer don''t know. Sound like poor planning or getting away from a bad home life..I just hope she is not carrying an unborn child..I live with a mentally ill person..

[barbaraf4]

Barbara4..."Were talking a girl with a mental disorder DO NOT expect rational behavior read my ealier post shes sick and does not realize it and thinks shes really hurting noone. If your mentaly ill do you actualy shes going to follow order NO the oppisite. You have no idea what your talking about would you just shut up you offer nothing but your opinion and it''''s a screwed as you are."
Posted by crzmeat
~~~~~~~~~
crzmeat, I have every idea exactly what I am talking about. The fact that I am bipolar and stablized for 20 years is what allows me to put up with your c*r*a*p.