MAGNA, Utah, Nov. 4, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A 7-year-old girl who was reported missing Monday night has been found and is safe, but Unified Police detectives are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the child’s home life.
The Unified Police Department posted a missing alert on Twitter a little after 8 p.m., saying Amberley Russell was last seen at 3:20 p.m. as she was leaving Elk Run Elementary School in Magna. She was reported to be riding her blue scooter.
Around 9 p.m., Unified Police detective Ken Hansen said in a news conference that the girl had been found at about 4 p.m. by Utah Transit Authority police at a UTA station near 210 W. 3300 South.
The girl told the UTA police that she was homeless, Hansen said, and the UTA officers contacted the Division of Child and Family Services. DCFS took the girl to Christmas Box House.
At the news conference, Hansen said he had just learned a few minutes earlier that Amberley was safe at Christmas Box House. A UPD detective checked and confirmed that she was taken there by DCFS. Hansen said detectives were on their way to interview the child and find out why she told police she is homeless.
Hansen said he had very few details as the investigation into the case was just getting underway.
Gephardt Daily will update this developing story as more information becomes available.
