Missing teen girl found, wasn’t kidnapped by ex-boyfriend, Pennsylvania police say

The search is over for a Pennsylvania teenager police initially believed was “taken against her will,” and now police say she was never kidnapped to begin with.

According to the New Castle Police Department, Haylee Hobbs, 16, was not “taken” from her home by her ex-boyfriend at 11:20 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, because she left with him “voluntarily.”

New Castle is approximately 50 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.

Investigators thought she had been kidnapped based on information from her family, police said.

“Responding officers were told by family members that the 16-year-old female juveniles’ ex-boyfriend had taken her from the residence against her will. It was reported that the juvenile was taken without her cell phone and not appropriately dressed for weather conditions,” an NCPD statement shared on Facebook said.

“The NCPD was also told that a family member had received a Snapchat phone call from the juvenile who was crying and saying that she was taken and to call the police,” according to the statement.

Charges of kidnapping and “other related offenses” were to be filed against Jones, according to police. But as of Monday afternoon, all charges have been dropped, police announced.

“The circumstances of this case are still being investigated,” police said.

This story was originally published November 15, 2021 at 11:32 AM with the headline "Missing teen girl found, wasn’t kidnapped by ex-boyfriend, Pennsylvania police say."