Mar 6, 2008 11:03 am US/Pacific
Missing Autistic Girl, 13, Found Safe
SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif.
A missing 13-year-old autistic girl was found safe Thursday, police said.
Janelle Halbrook had last been seen near Lake Center Middle School at Clarkman Street and Pioneer Boulevard around 4 p.m. Wednesday, Whittier police Officer Jason Zuhlke said.
It was not immediately known where the girl spent the night, Zuhlke said.
A teacher reportedly escorts Halbrook to another building on campus for an after-school program. However, Janelle's regular teacher was not on campus Wednesday to escort her, according to faculty.
Janelle was reported missing around 7 p.m. Wednesday when she failed to show up in front of the school where her mother usually picks her up.
The mother told police that Halbrook has a tendency to wander whenever her routine is interrupted, as she did in a similar "walk-away" incident several months ago.
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