Missing Sumter girls located, 2 face delinquency charges

After five days of searching, two Sumter teens who police say ran away from their Crosswell Drive residence were located safe in the Upstate Wednesday night.

The girls, ages 16 and 15, were reported missing on Aug. 28 after they were last seen at home in the early hours on Aug. 27.

According to Public Information Officer Tonyia McGirt, the Sumter Police Department followed information linking the two girls to an individual in Oconee County. Authorities there were then able to find the girls at separate locations.

Both girls are safe and were placed in a state Department of Juvenile Justice facility in Columbia, McGirt said.

Two male teens, ages 18 and 19, both of Seneca, were charged in connection to the girls’ disappearance.

McGirt said the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office charged both with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and were booked at the Oconee County Detention Center.

One of the girls, who was acquainted with one of the male teens and ran away in a similar manner last year, reportedly made arrangements with an unidentified adult to pick the girls up from their Sumter residence on Aug. 27 and transport them to Seneca, where the two males lived, McGirt said. The girls then hid from law enforcement in Oconee County until they were located.

The Sumter Police Department is continuing an investigation and are working to identify the driver.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sumter Police Department at (803) 436-2700. Tips can also be given anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC or submitted by logging onto www.P3tips.com and clicking on the “Submit a New Tip” tab or by downloading the new P3 Tips app for Apple and Android devices.